Hi, I'm about to start wiring my new, 1st ever, layout and am getting a little confused about things and hope that someone out there can set me straight on whats what. My layout is a 2' wide bench running around the outside of a room. Benches are roughly 6', 13 '6", 11' and 6'. (please see attached photo) I will have 2 "N" scale Atlas code 55 mainlines completing approximately 34' loops and another logging branch line going about half that distance. There is also planned to have a switching/staging yard as well. I have bought NCE Powercab, smart booster and additional throttle. My grandson and I plan to run a MAXIMUM of 4 trains at the one time. (2 each) All switches are manually operated and there are no electronically operated signals or lights. What I would like to know is, 1) given the width of the benches being just 2', would one single bus going round the circuit be sufficient, or do I need one for each line? 2) what would I need for boosters? Is one sufficient for what I have just outlined here, or should I buy (how many) more? 3) Should the bus be a complete circuit or should it have 2 ends? You should be able to see from my questions, I am very electrically challenged, and ANY suggestion/help would be a bonus. Thanks in anticipation, Rob
the correct answer is : it all depends. one single bus would do the job. but since you plan to run two main lines i'd suggest to use a bus per mainline. i'd also isolate the two mainlines. this gives you some advantages : - once you're more familiar with dcc/dcc wiring you can easily add block protection. if there's a short on main 1 only main 1 will be shut down. - you could easily add a second booster. which most likely is not needed - you can run dcc on main 1 and dc on main 2 4 trains with 3 engines each will pull a bit more than 1 amps. any booster with 3 amps or more will do the job. a single booster will be powerfull enough. my old layout had a complete circuit. no issues at all. my new layout has a bus with 2 ends. no issues at all. not sure what i should answer here. oh, i use digitrax.
Sandro well answered your questions and made a good suggestion regarding the mains being separated. I would also consider separating the branch from the mains for total of three power districts (DCC for block). The SB3(A?) will handle the running you are planning without an issue and the power bus I would install end to end rather than a ring. Though the layout is not very large there may be the possibilty of 'ringing' or an echo in a circular bus. If the straight line bus has the same issue you can place a resistor and capacitor on the end. I have wired my layout in a star due to the position of the bus being roughly in the centre of the layout. This allows me to break the layout into three power districts (2 x mainline, 1 x yard) for the track and one for the points (Tortoises with Switch-its). I use a PowerCab/SB3A set up as well. The maximum bus length in my case is about 7 metres.
I would agree with Gats' comment about creating a loop with the bus. While the distances involved on this layout aren't that big, creating loops is a bad habit to get into. It tends to make the high frequency signals degrade.
Sandro,Gary & Mark, Thank you for your answers. I appreciate your advice and I'll let you know how I get on. Its kinda scary in this electrical darkness which is now just gray rather than black, thanks to you.....Oh well, once more into the breach..... Cheers, Rob
On a layout of this size, looping the bus should be no problem. The track will be looped on the two continuous main lines. A loop will allow placeing the DCC system anywhere around the layout and still keep voltage drop to a minimum. If you decide not to loop the bus('s), try to locate the booster as close to center of the bus as possible. Using a separate bus fo each main and one for the branch will help with trouble shooting if a problem arises. The three bus's can be connected together at the DCC booster. Later you may decide to add a DCC circuit breaker for each bus. Those could be easily added by separating the three at the booster and simply splicing in the breakers. It's nice to build that option in from the start. I spent a couple of weeks breaking my last home layout up into 4 separate power districts. Martin Myers
First of all WELCOME to TrainBoard!! Second you are in N scale. LOL Third----- you like Western Pacific. Now to your question(s) You did not say if you have the latest Smart Booster (the SB3a) or the older one. If you have one of the earlier ones send it back to NCE and get it up dated. The new units make your system a 5 amp system. I do not see any reason for any more boosters. If you want, you can divide your layout into two or more districts. Then protect them with some type of circuit protector. When you divide your layout this way if a short happens in one district the circuit protector will shut that section down and will not affect the rest of your layout. So how you wire the layout will depend on just how many districts or want or need.
I will also say to run seperate busses and use the PSX Circuit breakers from DCC specialties from the beginning. IT is you best insurance policy. Better yet you can get a double or a triple or a quadruple breaker to set up your power districts so you just have one connection to worry about to the booster.
OK; Not looped separate track buses, 3 districts, a PSX-3 circuit breaker and an upgraded SB3A booster it is then. Thanks for the advice, its much appreciated. You will hear from me again, no doubt. Cheers, Rob
