Using Accessory C-D to run Ready to run trains

@ROB O GAUGE KID posted:

...KW... I have 2 Ready to Run O gauge trains, with the handheld remotes. My question is can i wire a loop of track using Accessory C-D to run them... ...would it matter which one is wired to center rail and which to outer rail.

I have found that LionChief runs quite well at about 14 volts, so you are good there. It doesn't matter which post goes to the center. If you are not using the KW for anything else, use A-U or B-U and adjust the throttle to give best/full performance at the lowest setting... in that case use U for the outside rails, A or B for center rail.

More critical is the fact that the KW is capable of 10+ amps under load for several seconds and that may generate a considerable amount of heat for FasTrack and its connectors & wiring(from the factory it's way too small) in the case of a derailment.  While this poses little threat to the sensitive electronics on board, it could melt plastic track pieces and trucks on cars if an axle bridges the rails for long or the interior wiring of illuminated cars(Polar Express prime example) if one roller is on center rail and the other grounded to common.  A three amp breaker(about the capacity of the LionChief power supply) for the feed to the center rail connection of each loop will help with this.

Another mostly unrelated issue is Transient Voltage Suppression - this is where protection of the sensitive electronics on board comes in and has nothing to do with the age, model, or size/capacity of the transformer.  A Bipolar TVS diode connected across C-D(or A-U/B-U if you go that route) will for the most part cover you there. A TVS diode connected at the track connection in parallel for each loop would be a little better.

@ADCX Rob posted:

I have found that LionChief runs quite well at about 14 volts, so you are good there. It doesn't matter which post goes to the center. If you are not using the KW for anything else, use A-U or B-U and adjust the throttle to give best/full performance at the lowest setting... in that case use U for the outside rails, A or B for center rail.

More critical is the fact that the KW is capable of 10+ amps under load for several seconds and that may generate a considerable amount of heat for FasTrack and its connectors & wiring(from the factory it's way too small) in the case of a derailment.  While this poses little threat to the sensitive electronics on board, it could melt plastic track pieces and trucks on cars if an axle bridges the rails for long or the interior wiring of illuminated cars(Polar Express prime example) if one roller is on center rail and the other grounded to common.  A three amp breaker(about the capacity of the LionChief power supply) for the feed to the center rail connection of each loop will help with this.

Another mostly unrelated issue is Transient Voltage Suppression - this is where protection of the sensitive electronics on board comes in and has nothing to do with the age, model, or size/capacity of the transformer.  A Bipolar TVS diode connected across C-D(or A-U/B-U if you go that route) will for the most part cover you there. A TVS diode connected at the track connection in parallel for each loop would be a little better.

Thanks Rob. I don't run fastrack. O27 tubular. Only. I will look into the diodes anyway. Have a great one.

You too, I'm working on the RR tonight.

Here is the TVS connection for the lockons posted in an earlier thread: