Help!

[Anonymous]

I am in the homestretch here with my new layout and I just got a bad signal from the transformer telling me something is wrong with my wiring. Here is what I did, can someone help.

I ran one 16 Gauge wire from the transformer along the track, and connected power feeds once every three connections. ( I did not use lockons, but small clips usi9ng a suggestion from this board!) Then I ran a return feed the same way, but I did not connect the return feeds to the same tracks as the power feeds (too messy) so I have 4 hookups to 4 different track pieces, with 4 return hookups to 4 different track pieces. Is this my problem? Or is it something else?

[spankybird]

Hi RedCaboose522,

It sounds like you should be ok. Make sure that you do not have any of the wires mixed up. That the center rail wire is not mixed with an outside rail.

Try connecting only one set of wires at a time. If each one by it self is ok, the add second set of wires with first set. If ok, then added third.

If at any time you have a problem, you will know where to look.

tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

Tom's debugging method is where I would start too. Which type of track did you say you were using, I can't remember?

Also, what kind of indication did the transformer give, circuit breaker, dimming lights, hot?

It may not be your wiring at all, but a bad section of track, so you should try to return to the last time when things were OK.

[Anonymous]

OH MY GOSH! Is this needed? I have a 21X21 layout with one lockon and power coming from ONE 180 brick and TPC 400. Everything runs fine. You mean you actually have a wire going to every third piece of track? Sounds like a nightmare and must look like a bowl of spaghetti! All that obviously isn't needed.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Don't laugh Jack, I have a feeder on all three rails, on every three foot section of Gargraves track on my layout so far. Yes, it takes more work, but in my case I already own all of the material, you know?[:D]

It doesn't have to look like spaghetti...


Notice the number 27? These go up to 39, and start at 1 of course.

[Anonymous]

Thnaks guys, I found it. I had two wires mixed up. Big Boy, I took a long look at my wiring to lockons thread, and just felt that I would rather be safe than sorry now.

But wait! Now that its working, can I get some free advice to one more issue? I have a corner connection that is giving my engines some trouble. I have thr track (o tubular) as tioght as I can get it but it still is making a louder than I like clack as it goes around. Other than solder (its a shelf layout) what do you use to smooth out track connections?

[Big_Boy_4005]

Is the connection at the proper angle? Sometimes because of the desired shape of a layout, the track alignment may be fudged a little.

Another thing that can happen is, the ends of the track can get a little flared out, if they have been taken apart a few times. If you notice a rough transition when running your finger over the joint, just take a pair of pliers, and gently work it until its smooth.

Oh and be careful, free advice may cost you.[swg]

[jkerklo]

Clacking usually means a gap in the track.

Best to close all the gaps, but sometimes this gets involved with less desireable tradeoffs.

When I can't get rid of a gap, I install three lengths of telescoping brass tubing (diameter just slips over track pins) and cut to length so it fills the gap exactly.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[Anonymous]

Okay...whatever....But as stated above my layout runs just fine with a 180 and a TPC 400....Just know that whatever you guys are doing is not needed and you're causing yourselves a lot of heart ache for nada. Oh, and for the records, gauge of wire is not important either. Are you ready to cringe? I use 18 all the way around for everything except the 180's power--I use Lionel's wire kit for that.

[spankybird]

Hi All,

If you are planning on ever using MTH DCS, it is MTH recommendation to use 16 gage wire with a lock on every 25 feet of track. I have DCS and have used this recommendation. I have track single of 10’s and once in a while a 9. Track single is 1 to 10 and 10 being the best.

This is from MTH on their recommendation of star wiring.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Jack, I know that my wiring is WAY overkill, but I learned it at the mall. This way, I know that there will never be a problem getting power to the rails at any location, ever. Because my layout is so large, I don't ever want to have to think about this issue, since some locations will be difficult to access once everything is built.

As for "normal" layouts, my experience has been that track conditions vary from setup to setup. Sometimes everything works just fine hooking up two wires and letting it run and sometimes you end up with slow spots.

If you find that you have slow spots, you have three options. One, go around and crimp your track joints, and often you will find the ONE problem joint, and solve the problem. Two, add a set of feeders, and bypass the bad joint(s). Three, stand at the throttle and play with the voltage.

As for wire size, there are safety issues that can come up, and care should be taken to prevent a possible fire hazard. This topic was discussed at great length a couple of months ago, and if you missed it, here's the link

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10664