Track Power Issue

Thank you all! Excellent advice. I've gone ahead with using rail clamps and will be replacing all my joints eventually. I have noticed much better conduction even with my smaller loco in the areas that are exclusively connected with rail clamps.
 
Gavin Sowry said:
I'll second that... and you are wasting your time if the wind is blowing.

A small tip when soldering.... pick the iron up by its handle (that's the cold end). :mad:
Click to expand...

Next observation. Why do Antipodeans prefer to wear flip flops ? Answer. So you can smell the burning rubber from the soldering iron you have stood on before it burns your foot.
 
Going right back to the first post. Running at night usually means there is dew on the rails. I have noticed that my few locos without skates do begin to stutter as the evening draws in. This will also of course affect the lighted coaches. I tend to choose locos with skates when I know I will be running late. Other than that, it is as said above clean track and clamps.
 
I use Garryflex blocks to clean my track.

I run dc and find any poor connections by using a sound equipped loco. The sound chips seem to be quite sensitive to a small drop in voltage and therefore just listening to a loco going round will immediately warn of any poor connections before you can see any drop in speed. I just keep a stock of rail clamps in the shed. If I hear a poor connection I swap the joiner for a clamp. I don’t install clamps where the original rail joiners are functioning perfectly. This saves time and money and the vast majority of joiners are fine anyway.
 
A agree with your clamp system Chris - That#s what I do here.
 
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