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
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.
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?
I have always put RC terminators on the end of my buses. Super cheap as its 100 ohm 1W resistor and .01uF 50V capacitor between the rails and certainly can't hurt anything. More reading here. https://sites.google.com/site/markg...t-practices/wiring-planing/snubbers-rc-filter
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.