track wiring

sidney Jul 26, 2022

  1. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    ok so i got the bright (maybe not so bright ) idea of using one track feeder to power all tracks on the layout by soldering wires from one part of the track to the next part of track on the lay out (see pic ) i was thinking it would be better to use the rails as there sold so less voltage drop sorta . i have not tried it yet thinking that better minds could give feed back (sometimes my mind is waaaay out there):ROFLMAO: :)
    it would save me a lot of feeders too........
     

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  2. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I know very little about DCC, but it looks like you may have a blue wire on the outside rail at the bottom and a red wire to the outside rail at the top? I'm thinking that'd cause a short, right?
     
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  3. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Not a good idea. Yes the rails are thick and therefore have less power drops, sort of like a super gauge wire. But about the track connectors between sections of tracks? Those are your week points. Feeders are used to overcome those week spots.
     
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  4. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    Yes i was not thinking clear when i did that. i just wanted to hurry up the drawing . i caught that after i posted the pic :D
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    Well my plan is to sold all those connections between each track , BUT to be honest ive never had a problem losing power from them some times i do though. being as this will be a permanent layout ill solder all the connections when im done fiddling with the track.
    I do have problems with those pesky feeders all the time , I really dont like them. I have a mess of wiring with those and im pretty sure i can get rid of that mess by going this route. Right now its a trail by error thing. I do have lots of flex track to convert to, but i dont like any other turn outs but kato. There (kato ) are very reliable and power routing as well...
     
  5. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Many Unitrack users have had good results using powered unijoiners between up to every half-dozen pieces or so. A lot depends on the environment (humidity, dust, temperature fluctuations, etc.)

    Unitrack switches are power-routing, with continuous outer rails, but the de-selected route will have no power on the inside rail of the crotch. Double crossovers have continuous outer rails, but all inner and crossing rails are isolated in the middle.
     
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