texasspeciallionel posted:Wow Dave! Thanks for all of your effort in helping me solve this issue! Took me a second (or two) to figure out the cheat sheet but I broke the code! Way cool! Since you've obviously done this before, I have a couple of "electric" questions too. I plan on using my 275 watt zw to power this operation (without powerhouses) along with a Legacy controller. Many of the videos I've seen use blocks, multiple transformers or powerhouses and much discussion about amps. With the layout you've helped me design, do you believe that my zw is adequate to power the layout? Other than powering my track at one location only and using the track power to power my switches (I am gonna attempt to have the Legacy control the switches and not wire them directly to the zw; and using another output of the zw to power crossing gates, lights, etc; I haven't put much thought in designing a more complex electrical plan. Any thoughts?
You have about 67 feet of track - so, try it with 1 pair of feeders and then add more if you get a slow spot. FasTrack has terminals on most full pieces. You don't need blocks, just additional feeder pairs. The old ZW (is it postwar) should be fine for track and switch uses - set the voltage no higher than 18 volts AC
6 engines at once could tax it
also, it doesn't have a quick acting breaker to protect the electronics in the trains - maybe run some inline fastblow fuses at 5-6 amps
You could isolate one of the passing sidings to kill power and park a train (which would be a block) - why - if you park a passenger train there legacy will keep the engine shut down, but, the passenger car lights will be on constantly.
Good idea to put the accessories on another transformer - phase it with the ZW
