Ok, guys time for a really new guy question here. How large should the gap between rails be and how and what do you use to measure it. I'm trying to lay the track for a yard I'm doing and have made my goal to get the track layed for the layout party. Can see the track plan for it here yard track plan
well, you want it close enough that the wheels roll smooth and does not look visually bad, but far enough so that there is no powercrossing the gap.
I see the problem. Between conducting rails, the ends should be as close to possible. Every so often, a couple of feet or more, you should leave a bit more gap to allow for expansion. This is not, however, really called a "gap", since the object of the game is not to have a space between the rail ends at all. What we thought you meant was an "insulating gap", where the rails are separated to stop electricity. You have to make a bit wider gap there, since you can get a short circuit if the ends touch due to thermal expansion. The Peco insulating rail joiners are the best I've found, since it has a piece of plastic that stops the rails from touching. Many times, I just leave a gap with no rail joiner at all, since it works fine for me.
Israel: You can cut a rail gap with a razorback saw and you can feel the gap with a small piece of styrene or cold cure acrylic. Stay cool and run steam....
what does this mean. I soddered some of my rails. I am sure power crosses due to this. </font>[/QUOTE]I was thinking insulating gap. Never heard of needing expansion gaps, you guys keep your layouts outside? go from 20 degrees to 90 degress or something? I doubt you'd get much expansion ranging from 62-80 degrees in a house.
Claudio- Don't panic. If you had crossed wires or whatever else, you would have known it already. When I first laid down my tracks, I used the Atlas insulated joiners where instructed. I now know to use a razor saw or a Dremel thin cut off wheel (or five of them) and then fill the gap with the acrylic at Bob's suggestion.
