DCC questions

[Chemdawg]

I have a newbie question here. I am working on expanding my DCC Bachman setup I have here. I already have a decent amount of the Bachmann ez track, so for the time being, I want to stick with it. One thing I already realized though is that I'm not supplying enough power with the stnadard 44902 system that comes with it. I am only running 2 dcc loco's and a DC steamer. The 2 dcc locos both have lights, and the DC has light and smoke. I notice a big slow down once the cars get farther away from the supply. With this being said, I was reading bachmans catalog, and they are telling me that I will have to have the 44910 power booster setup for ez-command. This is a pretty big chunk of change. Is this the case? I would like to expand this alot more, but I want to keep the EZcommand system from Bachman for now. Is there another way I can expand this?

Thanks in advance..

 

[Selector]

A cheaper and faster solution would be to run some 20 gauge feeder wires from your terminals to the far side of the tracks. Chances are very good that you'll find a substantial improvement. In fact, if you don't mind doing so, remove the wiring currently attached to your power source that also end on the rails. In their place, screw a pair of 16 gauge wires that will run the long axis of your layout. From breaks in the insulation on what is now your bus, you can solder 22 gauge feeders to three or four places on your track system and you can kiss voltage drop good-bye...unless...one or more of your metal joiners between all those EZ-Track segments is either dirty, loose, or both. If the joiners are what is causing the voltage drop, and not just the long run from your current wiring to the far side of the rail loop, then you must do something different. You either need new joiners or should figure out how to improve what you have. For most of us, making joiners bullet proof means soldering them. Means permanent with EZ-Track unless you are willing to purchase a solder wick and de-solder each soldered joiner later.

Crandell

 

[dave1905]

On permanent layouts with DCC the normal wiring mode is to run a pair of "bus" wires under the layout, normally very heavy gauge wire, in the 12-16 gauge range and then at intervals (4 to 6 feet) connect the rails to the bus with smaller gauge wire, 18-20 gauge.

As others have said, the problem isn't the size of your power supply, its the poor quality of the electrical connections between EZ track segments.

 

[Chemdawg]

Makes sense. How many accessories can you connect before you need to upgrade power source? Is there a rule-of-thumb to follow on how big your layout needs to be, or gow many dcc accessories you can have before you need more power?

 

[hamltnblue]

Starter sets aren't really meant to run more than one or two loco's.
Basically if you run higher than 75-80% continuous on any power supply you're eventually going to have problems. There are several reasons why ranging from the supply to what is being supplied.

In the mean time as a couple have noted, trains slowing down is a symptom of voltage drop and a lack of feeders. Solder a couple of feeders and run the wire from the power supply. You'll see an imediate improvement, even if it's one or 2 to the farthest point at first. If the layout is seasonal simply clip the joiner wire a foot or so from track so you can store them. Next season you simply re-connect them.

You can also hide the feeder wire under the plastic road bed.
Good Luck and enjoy.

 

[Selector]

Makes sense. How many accessories can you connect before you need to upgrade power source? Is there a rule-of-thumb to follow on how big your layout needs to be, or gow many dcc accessories you can have before you need more power?

This is like asking how many thousand pounds can I tow with a 2000 pound towing capacity. The answer to your question is - as many accessories as it takes, with their cumulative amperage draw, to run the power supply up to its continuous supply limit. Voltage is the pressure in the hose, and it drops the longer the hose is. The amperage is the work, or the non-compressibility of the water front. Each power-sucking device needs some of that amperage. Street lights (depending on whether they're pea bulbs or LED's, and how many of each), your locomotives (some have sticky and demanding older drive mechanisms, while others have slick can motors but speaker systems and lights), the lighting inside the better passenger cars available these days, and so on.

As a general rule of thumb, assuming you aren't also powering switch machines and street and structure interior lighting, count on about 0.25 amps for a modern DC locomotive or one with a simple three or four function (no sound) decoder. Add about twice that if you intend to make the engine do some hefty towing, especially up grades. So, let's say about 0.5 (or one half) of an amp per locomotive for a safe estimate that should also leave you with some head room. Sound systems will add about another 1/4 amp per locomotive.