by RichD » Wed Aug 28, 2019 8:15 am
If you are using an electronic controller those are polarity sensitive. That has nothing to do with the track rails, it has to do with which way electricity goes through the controller. Devices like transistors and diodes only conduct in one direction, so the polarity of the controller has to match the way that the track is wired. Usually electronic controllers are designed so that they will not be damaged if they are connected to a track with the wrong wiring. Some electronic controllers will only work with a track that is wired for brakes. If you are unsure about the polarity of your track wiring or your type of controller just connect the black and white wires and see if that works, if the controller has a red brake wire do not connect that. If the controller does not work switch the black and white connections and the controller will probably work. In that case if you have a brake wire do not connect it, you would be likely to short something out. If the normal connections work it is safe to connect the brake wire. If the track and controller do not match it would be best to change the polarity of your track wiring, that is fairly easy to do. Just switch the wires at the power supply and switch the wires that go to the track rails, your cars will still run in the same direction.