Skip to main content

Reply to "DCS and wiring for a large scale layout"

JerryG posted:

Chris, I have a large table layout and a newer ceiling layout that runs around the rec room.   To provide you an example, the ceiling layout is double-tracked, 100 ft. around.  There is a small yard, with a long spur so that I can park a whole consist.

The two main lines are powered through the TIU with one PW ZW, and the 14 gauge wire runs a bus for each, to each corner, and in opposite directions.  So, only 4 power drops on each main.  The spur and yard use one of the inside sliders for separate power.  There are no dead spots or power drops, both mains reading 10, and always have.

One difference is that it's all Gargraves flex track and is necessarily screwed through the roadbed, and into the wood.   The black Gargraves screws are perfect, hard to see, and the tracks don't move.

20170507_105309_001

I've never used Realtrax or a Z1000.  I use a Z4000 on two upper mains of my table layout, running 3 LCP's about 70 feet around.  I've found I only needed one power drop for each of those, which surprised me.  My conventional engines on PW tubular track suffer occasional power drops on my lower levels, but, never the Gargraves.

Hope this gives you some idea.

Jerry

Hi jerry,  I am not familar to the Z4000, how many watts are you taking to each fixed channel? 100 or more?  THe z1000 is a 100 watt brick that you connect to the TIU.  so I use 4 bricks so each channel has 100 watts.   I might do the 4 corners with power and centralize my bus.  

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
×