Question for the DCS experts

None of my rail joints are soldered on my 15x33.  DCS works just fine.

Have Fun

Ron

My 35'x16' layout is all Gargraves 3-rail.  No star wiring.  No soldered joints.  No problems

Plus 1 RJR.  Star wiring?  We don't need no stinking star wiring.

From what I can tell the problem was in the Atlas scale 2 rail track. I have no issues with the 3 rail Atlas, but the scale 2 rail is so much smaller, I figured the problem was in the connectors. I went ahead and soldered all the joints on the 2 rail, now everything is running fine.

I have always wondered about STAR wiring myself, but I had it explained to me and it makes sense given the MTH 2 way communication. I have heard of guys using common bus wiring with no problems, but I have also heard of some having major issues, that's why I went ahead and did it by the book.

On to the trains!

My layout was built before DCS, planned to have many conventional locos running.  This requires many toggle-switched blocks, all switches on a control panel.  Star wiring not feasible for such usage.  I plopped tius between transformers and panels, and have been running that way for nigh onto 20 years.

 I was told to solder my 2 rail Atlas track years ago. I soldered half of the layout. The other half I didn't. It ran fine for a long time. I started having issues and finally soldered the whole layout.

 If you don't solder it, the track connections must be tight. The track connections are the weak spot. The rail is fine for carrying power. If the power is good, the DCS signal will be good. A lot of people think it's a signal issue when it's usually a power dip issue. Run in conventional and check for power dips around the layout.

It could be the locomotive. What is the make and model number? I recently converted an MTH 2 rail scale diesel from 2 rail to 3 rail. The high-rail wheel set came with a bag of shims for the axle bushings. See attachment.

For the engine, make sure you maintain it. It needs oil at the axle ends every year. The battery in PS2 engines should be checked frequently. Even more so when the get old. You can get more than a decade out of a battery with regular use and normal conditions.

Joe, I'm curious.  I haven't looked at Atlas 2-rail track.  I do know if steel or brass, and does it have enough cross-section to equate to 14 or 16 gauge copper wire?

Thanks guys for all the input and advice!

In the two troubled areas I ran a simple jumper underneath the layout from one track section to the next, within the same block of course. Now I have no issues in those sections with the locomotive in question.

Oman, it is an MTH PS2 8-8-0 #20-3233-1

-Todd

@jockey31 posted:

Thanks guys for all the input and advice!

 

Oman, it is an MTH PS2 8-8-0 #20-3233-1

 

-Todd

Okay. it's not a 3-2-3, so my thought isn't related.