Electrical Track Hookup

Jim,

    This all depends on whether you are running conventional, DCS or Legacy.

It changes for the different type layouts, running DCS I set up using the 10 track join rule and seldom violate it. I also connect my Legacy directly to the oppisite outside track from the DCS track connections, and run Legacy also on the all Black Channels of my DCS TIU.  If you are running conventional only straight to the tracks with a KW,

it will depend on how many lighted cars you are pulling all the time, if you run mostly unlighted work or freight trains, about every 15-18 track joins will probably get the job done.  If you are running big lighted passenger cars all the time, probably about every 10 track joins, also if you are using old 022/072-711 switches replace all the switch & controller bulbs with LED's.

PCRR/Dave

I think the experts will tell you it's the number of sections of track per drop vice the overall length of track.

As a general rule of thumb wherever I place a drop I look at 4 sections of track on either side and call them good.  Sometimes I break that rule and add extra drops if a switch is involved and engines give me difficulty in that zone.

Hope that helps.

Ron

Depends on the length of the track sections also.  Gargrave flex track is 36" +.  It works two sections per (6ft module), Fort Pitt High Railer's modular layout.  We do one drop to the track per module. 12 ga bus wiring. We also solder a jumper across the track joint.

(42 ft.) is (7) modules.  (7) connections to the track.  Modular sections with Switches will have more connections.  One drop installed on each leg of the switch.

Three sets should work nicely. 

I just got our first 18ga drop to 12ga bus on a 40' loop of Ross track that includes 8 Ross turnouts.  Couldn't wait to test it.  With the one connection our old General steam engine went round and round at a steady pace.  I will add lots more drops and make blocks but just saying, with one connection to brand new track it worked perfectly.  It is nice when things work.

Hey guys,

Running DCS. Still a have question on how to treat a switch in a single block.  In my trial dcs learning layout I have a passing siding consisting 8 units GG track.   On the inside of this siding I have the main line consisting of 6 unit of GG track. Want to treat each as a separate block.  These two blocks are connected to the main line going around the back side of the layout.  Now I have the "two tracks on the front side(siding and main line) connecting to the rear main" via a ross #160 & #161.  My question is what is the best way to wire these switches into the blocks?

Do I include a switch in the block as a track joint??

Do I power the switch only and isolate it into a single block?

I have to have the feed power to the center track unit of block but my switches are at the end of the blocks.

Which way to go??

Tommy 

Don't "skimp " on the wire. I have 14 ga buss and feeders soldered to the track tabs every 12' on my 10'x16' fastrack layout, and power is the same anywhere on the layout as it is coming out of my TPC unit.

Save the 18ga stuff for the starter sets. 

IMO the biggest mistake many folks make is too small of wire guage. Second biggest is an inadequate transformer. 

Having said that, the best way to get the "most" out of a smaller transformer is to use a good sized wire.

Thanks Rick.  I'll go back and add bigger wire.  I could have sworn I saw where 18ga solid core was good for feeders so that was what I was using.  I didn't buy much though so not a big loss.

Our layout is 11'x12'  and I don't think there will ever be more than one engine on a block so I thought 18ga would work.  Do you think 16ga would be enough?

Again, just FYI, but my son and I ran one PS2 engine with 3 lighted passenger cars around the outside 40' loop for about 30 minutes with that one 18ga connection and I couldn't detect any wire warming with my fingers.  I also couldn't detect any voltage drop from our main terminal strip, through about 8' of 12ga bus and 2' 18ga drop.  I have a cheap multi-meter but it looked like no voltage drop.  After about 15 minutes of running we could see that the train was running slower at the furthest point from the drop and by the end it was obviously slower at that point.  That Voltage drop starts around 30' from the 18ga drop.  Attached is a picture.  The double crossover is isolated and wired separately.

Tommy,

I hesitate to comment because you may be far ahead of me and I don't know what I'm doing.  But, I had similar issues deciding where to make my blocks.  If your turnouts are not "Ross Ready" then you can power the center rail leading out of the turnout separately.  In other words, half of your turnout can be in a main block and half in a siding block.  I didn't know that and all my turnouts were "Ross Ready" so I decided to go with all the turnouts being on the most main line except for my two double crossovers which I'm putting on SPDT (on/off/on) switches.  I'm doing that so my son can choose which loop power is powering the double crossovers.  See attachment in my previous post above.

I'm still glad I order the turnouts "Ross Ready" because I don't need anymore to do at this point.  You could always cut the "Ross Ready" connection between the rails.  My first choice is to just keep the turnouts on the main line and power the siding track from there on.

Thanks willhi, for the reply. No I'm still in K1 trying to set up my signal blocks.  I should have said "signal blocks" instead of "power blocks" I look at the track sections as signal blocks, not power. We're trying to get a good DCS signal thru my turnouts within a signal block. All my turnouts are ross ready so I'll treat them as part of the signal block.  This info helps and we go this way and look at our signal strength down the road.  I have one double xover on my trial DCS layout that I may need to request your comments

Best regards

Tommy