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So on a layout that is say 16 x 6, lets say a double oval for example sakes. Does the wire originate at the power box and then you run 1 continuous wire around the whole track splicing it off ever 18 inches and soldering it to the track? Geez I hope I asked that properly. I ask this for the purpose of learning how to wire a DC track so the engine doesnt slow down or even stop at the points far from the power source.
I would run two wires, one in each direction of the loop from your power supply so you don't loose power over one long run of wire. Wire has resistance and the longer the wire the more voltage you drop, depending on the gauge of the wire. The heavier wire, i.e. 12 - 14 gauge the less you loose over the run. Using 18 - 20 gauge, the more voltage you will drop and the fewer locos you will be able to have on the track at start up.
By "one" wire or "two" wires, I would clarify that each "wire" is actually a pair. The feeders go to the North and South tracks. Just keep track of each North and each South feeder, so you don't get a short circuit.
The main wires you need to run for power are called "Bus Wires" (12 or 14 gauge wire), they will be continuous with the end of those wires being attached to your last set of feeder wires. The feeder wires (18 gauge) are the ones that run from the track (rails) to the Bus Wire.
The more feeder wires you have the better; however, there is no need to have feeders every 18". Every 3' should be enough.
So on a layout that is say 16 x 6, lets say a double oval for example sakes. Does the wire originate at the power box and then you run 1 continuous wire around the whole track splicing it off ever 18 inches and soldering it to the track? Geez I hope I asked that properly. I ask this for the purpose of learning how to wire a DC track so the engine doesnt slow down or even stop at the points far from the power source.
Are you planning on ever operating more than one train at a time? If so for a DC layout generally, "no" you would not run a electric bus as you would for DCC. Most of the advice given so far is for a DCC layout. A DC layout usually has the track broken up into blocks. The power goes from the power box to a set of switches and from there out to each of the blocks individually. This allows the addition of a 2nd power box and the option to run a 2nd train.
Even if you are running just one train and considering an oval of 6x16 that would be 44 feet of track. With one set of wires to the rails the train would never be more than 22 feet from power. That is pretty far on nickel-silver track. So if the power box is in the center of the 16 foot side, and a second feeder is run 6 feet to the opposite side that means the train would never be more than 11 feet from power. That is probably doable, but adding two more from the center, going 8 feet in each direction to the ends of the 16 foot sides the a train would never be more than 5.5 feet from power. Perfectly good for DC. Every 18 inches is overkill in almost every situation.
you can't rely on joiners to relay power, you would usually solder those joiners in once your track layout is satisfied. Running 2 wire busses following the track works fine for reliability. But I dare say in time you might want to expand, modify this circle of track and add operation. I get nbored fast on simple circles, my layout has to have purpose, realistic operating.
