@Paul Kallus posted:In my experience the simpler the layout the better DCS works
Paul's response reminds me that I should have provided more details.
My layout is exactly 10 x 15 feet with an additional 11 x 4 feet L section. There is about 160 linear feet of FasTrack with 12 switches all on track power. I'm using two channels on one TIU for essentially two isolated loops. Each channel or loop has two power/TIU hookups.
I was new to the hobby when I built the layout so I didn't get silly about wiring. Ignorance is bliss. I just connected one piece of track near the TIU and another at the furthest end of the layout. It worked like a champ the first time I hooked it up. My advice to any newbie is: start simple. Unless your layout is enormous or complicated, then just hook up the TIU and see if it works. Later on, if you want to get Barry's book, do star-wiring, and build a control panel that looks like the space shuttle, then go for it.
