"Test Layout" electronic/electrical questions for the experts

[jockey31]

Hello guys and gals, new here, but long time hobbyist.

In my 10' X 20' man cave/home office I have built a 1/32 scale layout featuring digital slot cars on the lower level and 1 gauge trains on the top level. It is not finished but I will add pictures as soon as it gets close. It's basically for just running trains, not operation. Done kind of like a hobby shop layout of the 70's/80's. In fact when I am done, the whole man cave should have the same hobby shop theme.

Seeing that I just can't stick to one scale and I am a lifetime "picker", I have decided to build a smaller hybrid layout/test bench for HO scale.
Something more than a test bench, but less than a full layout.

My idea is to have the ability to test 2 rail analog dc, 2 rail dcc (digitrax), 3 rail analog Marklin ac, 3 rail Marklin delta digital and 3 rail modern Marklin digital (mobile station 2).

I was going to divide things up as follows;
-A 10' line of Kato unitrack with cement ties for the 2 rail dcc (digitrax)
-A 10' line of Kato unitrack with wood ties for the analog dc
-A 10' line of Marklin M track for the analog ac AND delta digital
-A 10' line of Marklin C track for the modern mobile station 2 system

So, my question is, can I get away with putting in a dpdt switch or similar to allow the Marklin M track to do double duty? Analog ac and delta digital (obviously not at the same time)?

Also, if you have any suggestions for this project please make them. I would rather have more room for scenery and less trackage, but I am not sure how far to push the wiring envelope.

My end goal is to have a hybrid test bench/layout that will allow me to run and test any HO trains that I acquire, vintage or modern, 2 rail or 3 that will still look like a layout with scenery.

Thank you for your thoughts and help,
Todd

 

[RhB Michael]

I don't know if anyone here can help. There is at least one Märklin operator here, but can't remember who it is.

Can you read and understand German?

 

[Michael B]

At a quick glance the answer is yes.
With a rotary switch you could hook quite a few more to the same track

 

[AuburnCentral]

Yes that will work, I have a lot of old dc engines and some DCC as well. I belong to a club but wanted to be able to run/test things at home so I made a 4x8 with a one loop on the outside and a bunch of switches inside for switching and I did use a dpdt switch to pick between a dc Marc power pack and a Digitrax DCC unit work great

 

[bnsf971]

Hello guys and gals, new here, but long time hobbyist.

In my 10' X 20' man cave/home office I have built a 1/32 scale layout featuring digital slot cars on the lower level and 1 gauge trains on the top level. It is not finished but I will add pictures as soon as it gets close. It's basically for just running trains, not operation. Done kind of like a hobby shop layout of the 70's/80's. In fact when I am done, the whole man cave should have the same hobby shop theme.

Seeing that I just can't stick to one scale and I am a lifetime "picker", I have decided to build a smaller hybrid layout/test bench for HO scale.
Something more than a test bench, but less than a full layout.

My idea is to have the ability to test 2 rail analog dc, 2 rail dcc (digitrax), 3 rail analog Marklin ac, 3 rail Marklin delta digital and 3 rail modern Marklin digital (mobile station 2).

I was going to divide things up as follows;
-A 10' line of Kato unitrack with cement ties for the 2 rail dcc (digitrax)
-A 10' line of Kato unitrack with wood ties for the analog dc
-A 10' line of Marklin M track for the analog ac AND delta digital
-A 10' line of Marklin C track for the modern mobile station 2 system

So, my question is, can I get away with putting in a dpdt switch or similar to allow the Marklin M track to do double duty? Analog ac and delta digital (obviously not at the same time)?

Also, if you have any suggestions for this project please make them. I would rather have more room for scenery and less trackage, but I am not sure how far to push the wiring envelope.

My end goal is to have a hybrid test bench/layout that will allow me to run and test any HO trains that I acquire, vintage or modern, 2 rail or 3 that will still look like a layout with scenery.

Thank you for your thoughts and help,
Todd

Yes, you can do this. I would use a rotary switch to select the track you are working on, and a DPDT, center off switch to change from digital to analog. The reason for the "center off" choice is there will always be "something" between analog and digital. Back when I performed repairs, I had a test platform configured like this.

 

[Iron Horseman]

So, my question is, can I get away with putting in a dpdt switch or similar to allow the Marklin M track to do double duty? Analog ac and delta digital (obviously not at the same time)?

I agree with the others, Yes you can do this. Electricity is electricity regardless if it is DC, AC, digital, or whatever, and whether the track is 2 or three "rail". I would use "center off" switches just to be safe.

 

[jockey31]

Thanks everybody for the vote of confidence and the suggestions.
-Todd