C-WW Hi all, I first off want to say thanks. I've been reading this board for a few months and it has made starting this hobby/addiction easier. Also you guys have some really cool roads and take great pictures, I don't know how you do it. OK, for my question. I don't have dcc, wanted to make sure that this hobby was something that I really wanted to do before dropping to much $$ into it (had to convince my better half). I have a 4x10 bench with a twice around trackplan. I have two power controllers (MRC) and want to have two trains running in opposite directions. I also want them to be able to switch to the other loop continuing the same direction. Can someone tell me if this is feaseable? I have the trackplan drawn in Atlas's software if anyone would like to take a look. I also have a yard and 4 industry spurs planned in the drawing. I have an atlas book that shows the wiring for the senior twice around but it doesnt say what it accomplishes. I would also be using atlas products for the electrical switches and contollers. Please remember I am a newbie and some of the terms, especially electrical related, throw me for a loop. Thanks, and will be talkin to you. [ March 28, 2006, 03:22 PM: Message edited by: watash ]
Hi RaidCTE, Okay friend, First of all here are two pictures of a simple track plan, but the basic wiring is the same for any model railroad. RED circles are the power supply to the tracks 12v dc. also needed would be double pole double throw switches for every power supply to the track, each switch would be daisy chained, I will go into that later on with you. When you get to that stage, if you want. The top diagram shows a simple loop and spurs off. The white parts are where you should put in Plastic rail joiners, to avoid a feed back. All points shown are LIVE FROGS. The bottom diagram shows a double loop with passing tracks, again white to show where to put Plastic Rail joiners once again. If you have already drawn up your track plan, Scan it in and show it in here, and I will copy it and draw on it where every railbreak and power point should be, in order for you to have block train control.Using double pole double throw switches. It is impossible for me to add anything further without look at your plan. cheers Paul
You might also take a look at the NMRA Beginner's Page Project pages. There is quite a bit of info there on wiring and basic layout construction. You can get there from the NMRA pages at http://www.nmra.org and follow the Beginner's Page link.
<font color="336633">Welcome to Trainboard RaiderCTE I am not very good at wireing, anymore than 2 wires and it never seems to work, at least I have my Dad here to help me..... or more likely show me where i gone wrong </font>
Thank you very much. Now as a follow up. I am assuming that I only insulate one rail (the inside rail). Does this make 5 or 6 "blocks" and will this allow me to run the trains in opposite directions? Again I can't thank you enough. I was close on my guessing but not quite right.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RaiderCTE: Thank you very much. Now as a follow up. I am assuming that I only insulate one rail (the inside rail). Does this make 5 or 6 "blocks" and will this allow me to run the trains in opposite directions? Again I can't thank you enough. I was close on my guessing but not quite right.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Reply NO, both rails need plastic joiners. However many red circles there are, you will need double pole double throw switches, each switch is daisy chained to the other on the top two and bottom two pins. Use colour coded wires so you won't make a mistake. The centre two pins are for power to the tracks. So each BLOCK represents one RED circle on the drawing. You have 5 blocks on you track plan, yes you can run two trains on separate tracks, inner and outer tracks. Need more help, just ask friend. [ 09 February 2001: Message edited by: Paul Templar ]
Even if you use DCC, your still going to have to use plastic rail joiners between facing turnouts if they have live frogs. Otherwise you will get a dead short.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RaiderCTE: Thank you very much. Now as a follow up. I am assuming that I only insulate one rail (the inside rail). Does this make 5 or 6 "blocks" and will this allow me to run the trains in opposite directions? Again I can't thank you enough. I was close on my guessing but not quite right.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Whether you insulate one rail or both depends upon whether or not you are using 'Common Rail' wiring. If you tie the common outputs of two power packs together and only insulate one rail, you have common rail and it will work quite well until you get to a reversing situation where you must insulate both rails. I said that to clairify that there are times when you only need to insulate one rail as I do in my two yards where the individual tracks are either on or off and the yard power control switch controls the direction. All of my yard tracks can be switched off independently. However, on my main line, I use double insulators and DPDT center off toggle switches to control my blocks. Roger Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com == http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html == == East Central Indiana HO Scale Railroad ==
