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l'm not new to model railroading but what l'm not good at is wiring a layout. l'm using fasttrack turnouts with code 55 track. l was able to post a drawing of the layout so if anyone is great at wiring a layout, etc. It would be a big help. The layout is DC but was thinking of DCC down the road? l'm also using Blue Point manual switch machines for all the switchs. Any help would be great.
I am no expert at wiring but what I can tell you is with DC you are going to need to isolate and create alot of blocks if you plan to run multiple trains. With DCC you would just need to create blocks for short detection and so every loco on your layout is not idling and making noise.
You may think of going straight to DCC. I know if I had a layout larger than my shelf I would (money being the other factor) be using DCC.
I know you were asking about wiring but I cannot figure out how you are going to make the crossover for the right loop of the figure "8". It looks like one is going over the track on the near the top of the layout and the other is going under.
Thanks brakeman, yes you are right one is going over the other. l dont mind having alot of blocks, l believe l have a few reversing loops which l can used Automatic units for. But where do l start?
It looks to me you have 2 reversing loops. they are essentially those two loops in your layout. They are defined by anywhere a train can enter the track section and then exit in the opposite direction from which it came.
Do yourself a favor--if your thinking of doing DCC, go ahead and wire it that way. Trust me, I did was there about a year ago myself and I shouldve gone straight to DCC. It makes wiring very simple.
If I were to approach wiring this layout, I would probably wire it in at least two districts. This will enable you to tell easier should you have a short circuit. That way your whole layout doesnt get shut down if you experience a short circuit in one of the two districts.
Im not sure how many trains you want to run at a time, but that will have a lot to do with what size/type of DCC system you get. I have a NCE PowerCab very happy. Other popular types are Digitrax, Lenz, and MRC.
Wiring those reversing loops is fairly easy and much easier than in DC. There are special auto reversers that are around $35. I think youd need two. The easiest way to explain it is you need to isolate both rails into and out of your loop. Next, you need to have the auto reverser(s) power the section of track right before and after the loop (ie the section of single track before the loop). This section gets its own power supply from the auto reverser and it senses a short circuit and changes track polarity before the locomotive can short out.
If you want to run DC you will need to add more track isolators (blocks) that the four you have shown. As a minimum you will need to isolate the yard from you two mail lines so you can do track work (forward/reverse) without effecting the two mains. The same would hold true for your passing lines. Are you going to have a train going "east" waiting for the "west" bound train to pass? Then you will need to isolate those tracks so the east can go east and the west can go west at the sametime. Again as was stated earlier...DCC would be easier to wire and easier to run on this track plan. What is the total size of this layout? You will have some reaching to do for the center tracks if this is beyond a 4'x8'. I would also add a cross over on the right hand side where the two outer tracks run parallel. Unless of course these tracks are at two different levels.
Yes the one reverse loop in yellow is on a upper level. so far l see only one reverse loop? And l have isolate the yard as showen. How would DCC be easier to wire on this layout? l really dont know alot about DCC and that would be a whole other thing to learn. The layout is a 6x10 N-scale with fasttrack switchs and atlas code 55 track. l have no problem of reaching over to the center tracks. l was going to add a lift-out to the right side to be on the safe side. l'm just about done with the track work but l'm running into problems with the wiring part.
With DCC you would have to wire a bus with a couple of feeders going to the track and isolate the return loop section. This supposing that your turnouts are DCC "friendly". That's about the size of it....For sure, learning DCC is a sight easier than learning the ins and outs of DC wiring....plus you save yourself about 30 trips under the table to solder all the jumpers you'd need...not to mention a handful of switches to power your different blocks....And it goes on and on....
Thanks BK, l forgot that a wye like that also makes it a loop. Now if l do go to a DCC system all l have to do is use feeders for the tracks but how many?
Use a feeder about every 5-6 feet. Soldering the rail joiners is also recommended. The joiners will loosen over time, and then you'll have dead spots in your track.
It depends...Some folks like to put a set of feeders every three feet +/-. Others claim this is overkill. I've got about 5 in a run close to 50 feet. For a maze of track like you're planning, I would use about 6-8 (You don't say what scale you're working on, nor what size that layout is.) If you notice a drop in engine performance somewhere in the track, you probably need a feeder there. Remember you have to isolate the return loop sections, AND use reversing modules to power those sections.
Also, you have to be VERY careful of not getting your wires crossed. Make sure that the wire coming out of post "A" is going to rail "A" all around the layout. Also test the wiring after EVERY set of feeeders is wired, so you can tell if you've goofed after putting in the last one....
The layout is N-scale, the size is 6x10. All the switchs are fasttracks switchs #5, #6, #7 and one #6 3-way with blue point manual switch controls. l not sure if the fasttracks switchs are DCC
Ok as far as feeders go, it sounds like they should be color code Red for (A) rail Blue for (B) rail and don't cross them.
And remember to isolate the loops.
The switches are DCC friendly, so lm thinking l can wire each one of them as picture, right?
You are moving right along. Keep the pictures coming.
