Please take a look at my layout so-far. I'm new at this and think it's pretty good so far. I'm running 2 trains (one deisel and one steam) on this track. Steam on the outside and diesel on the kidney shape in the middle. The steam runs alot faster than the diesel does so far until I take the steam off the track. Once I take it off, the diesel speeds up drastically. My question here is: Do I need to run an additional powersupply to my layout and if so, Where on my layout would I hook it up to? Here is my layout: Thanks for your time.
how large is the layout?? if it is like an 8x10 or so you sould have a wiring point on the other end, by the way all wires are not neccesary from the one power pack you should peel off part of the wire, and take another wire of the same size and twist it about the other wir, the same for the last two wires, wrap eack joint individually with electrical tape, and do this for every wiring point on the layout. I think this is correct it's been a whil since I've done this, some one else may be able to clarify this better. Good luck!! ------------------ TrainBoard.com MEMBER#204 Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad "QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"
The layout is on a 4x8. The Kidney shape is done with atlas 9 3/4 turns and the outside track is all Bachmann EZ track so far.(11 1/4 turns). But to ask again... Do I need an aditional power supply? I dont think I understand your answer. Sorry
now for the real answer,probably not if it's a good high quality control system. (MRC, etc.) Let someone else tell you about what to do about wiring points it's been three years and it's cloudy in that area as for my skill. ------------------ TrainBoard.com MEMBER#204 Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad "QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"
If your using a good quality power supply ,most likely it will suffice,but you do need to run more feeder wire to ensure that the power is getting to the other side of the layout. ------------------ Catt!#118 - A freelancer to the very end
I concur with Catt and Pat (Hey! That rhymes!) With a layout that size, just run a couple feeders to the farthest point from the power pack. (That's the way I have always done it on similar layouts and it worked as advertised). With the EZ track it'll be, well, easy
First, welcome to Trainboard. Sometimes it gets a little deep in here, so keep your boots on! I think you have two problems. 1) You need additional power hook ups to your track. If this is all sectional track, you might need more than one additional power hook up. Sectional track will have alot of power loss through the railjoiners. 2) Are you using a small transformer to run both engines? Put both engines on the same track, and advance the throttle. I will guess that the diesel moves before the steamer. The diesel takes less power to move than the steamer does, so if you remove the steamer the diesel gets a big boost in power. Another way to tell is to check your throttle. The diesel might start to move when the throttle is on 4 and the steamer doesn't move till the throttle is at 6 or 7. This is a guess I don't know what kind of throttle you have. If you are going to run two trains, get a good power pack. MRC makes very good power pack/throttle. 2001 here we come, anybody know where 2000 went? ------------------ Let's Go Run Trains MARK
Max, every one is correct so long as you are running both engines at the same time. If you intend to run one at a time, you will have to have an isolating switch to kill current to one loop, so the other can run. With that, you could wire a rehostat into both circuits, and control the speed of either engine separately, the power pack being left at full power. Remember to wire a DPDT switch into both circuits for direction control too. And you must insulate one loop from the other on both rails at two points convenient to separate the two trains. Use plastic rail joiners for this and make sure the get the kind that have the plastic gap filler in them, or you will have to use an old credit card to make a tiny filler to keep the ends of the rails from touching. ------------------ Watash #982
If you're just starting out, maybe DCC is the answer...I'm not a DCC user at this time because of the cost of reframing my engine fleet. Maybe someday for me, but you are just starting out so go for it! ------------------ Brent Tidaback, Member #234 BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot! Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners! The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF [This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 30 December 2000).]
Hi max I use a duel control Tech ll for my main lines with dpdt switches with center off to switch back and forth. I also have a Railpower 1200 to run my yard. It works if I stay on the ball and remember to keep switching back and forth. As stated before, your best bet would be to go DCC. I would except for the cost which I don't have. Maybe if I win the LOTO!! Dick
Max PS you can see my layout on "My Favouret layout" Forgive the spelling. No spell checker on here Dick
