Wiring Question for First Layout

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T

thomashmaine

Member
I have begun working on my first layout. I already have the bench work complete and have already laid out the layout to see if it was going to work and i was going to like it. i am about to start laying the foam and laying the track. at that point i have to start wiring but below are the question i have.

Some background on what i am using

- nce procab
- atlas code 83 track
- foam roadbed

1) i was planning on using the atlas code 83 joiner with the wire attached and put several 4-6 of them on the layout in various spots. Do you guys think this will be ok? I have read that you should solder wires to the track. i have never done that so i dont know how hard that is?
2) if i use the joiners with the wired attached, what is the best way to attach those wired to the bus running under the table?
3) i was going to use 14gauge wire, is this ok?
4) if i have multiple bus runs under the table, what is the best way to connect them together and then run it into the DCC
5) i also have a fair amount of atlas turnouts, i want to wire them up to a control panel. what is the best way to do this?
6) what type of wire is needed to wire the turnouts?

Sorry for all the questions.

Thanks

thomas
 
2) if i use the joiners with the wired attached, what is the best way to attach those wired to the bus running under the table?
Click to expand...
the best way would be to attach them in a way to create electric contat :P :)


but seriously, apart from block isolators, i soldered all the joints in my trackwork (which wasn't a lot as i used moslty flextrack) and while i was at it is soldered gage 22-24 (pair from network cable) leads for every block on sides of rail. did not use bus wire as my layout is not big at all, but joined everything onto little distribution block i made.
is this best way? i don't know, but it works very well.

CIMG1344-vi.jpg




are turnouts planned to be operated with DCC? if so you need stationary decoders of proper type for your switch machines (coils, if you run stock atlas). if you want to control them from ordinary panel you need a CDU. see my sig for my solution of this.
 
thanks for the information. The layout is only a 4x8 so do you think i even need to have a bus?

I plan on operating the turnouts via a control plan. I looked at the link, its very nice.

I currently do not know how to solder and have been looking up online how to do it. i guess the only way to learn is to test on a few pieces of track. what should the wire/track look like after its soldered? do you have an upclose photo i could look at?
 


IMHO no need in a bus wire, just a couple of leads to several key locations.
definetly try to solder first on test pieces as rails can be a bit frustrating if you don't do it just right. there was plenty discussion on soldering, this one for example:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15439
scroll down to post 6 and below. there is also a closeup picture
let me know if you have further questions about panel.
 
you posted a link to a atlas switch machine. these are used to actuate the turnouts, control panel is extra.
any cheaper solution? probably not. better? well, since this is the lowest of the low, anything else is probably better.i tried atlas and switched to peco turnouts with factory coil switch machines. but this is certainly not cheaper.
 
A switch machine is basically a motor that move the switch. manual model also exist, with a pushrod that extend on the layout fascia
 


i dont know yet, i still have to decide. i like what you did with yours but im not sure if that is going to be too complicated for my first one.
 
Hey what i did with those atlas remote switches is wire the red and green to your control panels switches N and R terminals at the top of each switch. I ran the Black wire (common) to a terminal strip in the middle of the layout. From there run the lead from your terminal strip back to the left-most switch machine. Youll need a DC power pack to run a couple of wires from the fixed AC power terminals on the back to the left side of that first switch machine.
 
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