pre-school Buss question

You really should connect the black (outside track) to all loops, those tracks are just as liable to have poor connections between segments as the center rail.

More problems:

I have the connected the brick 180 to the (buss)black and red wires and have no power at all. When connecting the (red) wire to the brick and check the current the meter reads 19 volts, then I add the black wire and the current reads ZERO, reversing the connection on the brick by connecting the black wire to the brick the meter reads 19 volts but when connecting red wire there is ZERO power.

I am using 14 gauge wire and quick disconnects for 14 ga.

Before I decided to re-wire I had the brick connected directly to the track (fastrack) with 16 gauge wire and disconnects with jumpers from loop to loop (3).

I was loosing 3 volts on the far end of the loop is why I decided to change to 14 gauge.

Folks, you can tell I nothing about electricity and I don't what I am doing wrong. I don't know if my terms are correct (volts,amps, wattage)

I could use some help

Thanks

Brent

Are you sure you're not tripping the breaker on the brick with a short somewhere? 

gunrunnerjohn, THANKS

It was a short, thought I had disconnected my #2 loop because I want to run convential on that loop and Legacy on #1 & #3, two feeders were not disconnected from #2 and the track was not connected thus a short.

Thanks for the advice and help, this is not the first time you and other forum members have come to my rescue.

Having solved that major hurdle, I plan to guide the Alabama Crimson Tide to a victory of at least one point tonight

Thanks again

Brent

That was a good move!  Bob Nelson(lionelsoni) estimates typical "O" track comparable to 16 AWG copper wire, which has a resistance of 4 milli-ohms per foot.   He recommends using 14 AWG(solid or stranded - your choice) as feeders to be certain that the feeder resistance is less than that of the track itself.

If you can determine the outcomes of football games, we have to talk, I'm on the other line with my bookie!

Brent, since I haven't watched the video, I have no idea how you have unconnected ends.  If you're running black and red wires as 2 conductor cable, both black and red wires should be terminated.

You may want to back up and get a better feel for wiring.  It may help to stop and check out this page  Toy Train Layout Wiring - Basic

Hi Rob,

 I wish that Bob Nelson (lionelsoni) wasn't a One Forum kinda guy, I learned a LOT from him when I used to spend more time on that other forum. Bob is truly a Treasure Chest of information, and has unbelieveable PATIENCE, for those that don't understand electrical theory the way that he does.

Doug

So true!!!  BTW: he OCCASIONALLY responds here on this forum.

- walt