Ends of the main buss

Tim Holmes Nov 30, 2020

  1. Tim Holmes

    Tim Holmes TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Guys:

    I am getting ready to start installing my main buss and a few of the sub busses and hopefully laying some track in the next couple days!!!

    the layout is U shaped around the wall. As I pull in the main buss that is attached to the plug panel where the NCE power cab plugs in, the buss will go 2 directions from the plug panel -- when I get out to the end of the layout, should I just terminate it at a terminal block or is there some special way to terminate it? im using the method that Ron describes on Rons Trains and Things
     
  2. Atani

    Atani TrainBoard Member

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    depending on how long your bus is you might consider putting a capacitor and resistor onto the end of the bus to help prevent ringing or reflection on the bus.
     
  3. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    We have been using the NCE system for the past 16 years at shows with up to 50 scale miles of Z Scale modules on numerous branches, and never though of using any terminators. I just started with Digitrax this summer, and it mentions termination connectors. I wonder if this has to do with Digitrax's Loconet and transponding, where NCE does not have that capability?
     
  4. Keith Ledbetter

    Keith Ledbetter TrainBoard Member

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  5. Atani

    Atani TrainBoard Member

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    Small correction, it should be a 0.1uF (100nF) capacitor.
     
  6. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    At DCC frequencies and typical rise/fall times, unless your layout spans multiple 100's of feet (from booster to farthest end), you do not need to terminate.

    Boosters with faster rise/fall times are more sensitive to poor wiring and/or improper termination.

    Use good wiring practices like keeping bus wires close together (preferably twisted or zip cord, but no more than a few inches apart), and feeders short (a few feet max) and similarly close.

    Terminating poor wiring won't help.
     
  7. Keith Ledbetter

    Keith Ledbetter TrainBoard Member

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    Correct .1uF sorry about that.

    And fully agree with everything @BigJake says
     
  8. Tim Holmes

    Tim Holmes TrainBoard Member

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    Cool guys - Thanks -- those are excellent ideas -- I'll do it
     

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