This module can be used in a number of locations on your layout to prevent a short-circuit damaging the power supply or overheating the solenoid coils in a “point motor.”
To prevent damage to the supply to the track, simply connect the module to the power supply using the middle screw terminal and either of the outer terminals and the same on the other end of the module to the train controller.
If something falls across the rails or a “short” occurs and the operator is not aware of the condition, the current will increase and the module will detect the high current and after one second the current will be reduced considerably and gradually fall to less than 70mA.
The other placement of the module protects the coils of “point motors” from burning out.
You can use a Capacitor Discharge Unit for this protection, but for those that use toggle switches or passing switches, the chance of a “stuck switch” is a possibility.
By placing this module as shown in the wiring diagram below, ALL the passing switches can be protected.
You can protect a single point or all points, depending where the module is placed.
The module costs $5.00 with $6.00 postage.
No-one in the world has thought of this design, because no-one “thinks outside the box” and you only need one or two to protect your whole layout.
It’s a great backstop to protection, especially when you have the neighbours children using your million dollar layout. And especially when you have a 20 amp power supply.

The components are hidden

The OVERLOAD MODULE

The overload Module connected to a Point Motor

The PECO Passing Switch is a very bad design as it does not deliver the energy to the point CORRECTLY when the lever is moved from one side to the other.
It delivers it TWICE - on each "throw."
The first delivery activates the point in its present position and has no effect. But it removes a lot of the energy from the CDU and the CDU has less effect in the other direction.
Talking Electronics has produced a properly designed PASSING SWITCH for use with a CDU as shown in the images below. It is a hand-constructed switch and comes as a kit.
You need a lot of skill and patience and tools to put it together.
The kit contains 5 switches for $15.00 usd and this compares with about $80.00 for the unsuitable switches.

The correctly-designed PASSING SWITCH

5 switches can be "ganged together"