power question

[Anonymous]

I have about a 15 X 8 foot layout with the Lionel fastrack. My train is stopping on the track farthest from where I have my 80W transformer. I know since my voltage is dropping my train will stop. My question is do I need a bigger transformer or could I buy a power booster and connect it to the track or to my current transformer. I plan on running more accessories (gates. lights etc.) but if I would like to avoid buying a very expensive transformer.

[Anonymous]

Hello cooker, you may need to run a set of feeder wires from your transformer to farthest point onyour layout you can get these from a dealer but not to hard to make your own for about tenth of cost including wire.

[Anonymous]

Also,

Use at least 16 gauge wire to keep the voltage drop down.
(14 gauge is even better yet).

Daniel Lang

[jkerklo]

First, you have a break in your track connections. To test, take the train off the track and choose a car with a light in it. Move the car around the track until the light goes out, fix the break, then continue.

Actually, you must have two breaks, since power should be complete, all the way around. It can help to intentionally break the track half way around, test, and fix breaks, then put the break back together.

Additional power connections are also a good idea: track is not the best conductor of electricity. Plan on at least two additional connections to the track.

As stated in a previous reply, use #16 gauge wire (stranded is best). Use two colors. Designate one color for the outside rail connection and another for the center rail. Make sure connections are always same-same: crossing the wires will short the track.

Your transformer should be adequate for one train and a few accessories.

Check this forum. There have been some detailed topics related to powering a layout in the last few days.

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

[Anonymous]

Check the thread titles "Help with wiring to lockons"

IT covers a lot of good info about wires, power to the far reaches of your layout, etc.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Dear cooker,
For many years I had a 16x12 floor layout, with two ovals of track. I forget at the moment what transformer I was using, but I am pretty sure it was over 80 watts. You may need a larger transformer, since your layout is decent sized. However, before you go out and by a new 1,000,000,000,000 watt transformer, put in two or three new lockons (feeder wires), as I found that they helped considerably, and remember that I have been known to use a meat cleaver to slice carrots [:)].

I hope I have helped,
Daniel

[lionelsoni]

The size of the transformer needed depends on the load that you put on it, not on the length of the track. If its power rating is good enough when the train is near, it should be good enough when it is far away.

It sounds like you are describing a partial loss of voltage at the far end of the layout, not a complete open circuit. If so, the lighted car trick will not tell you anything. The voltage drop is almost certainly due to track resistance, which in turn is probably due to high-resistance joints much more than to the resistance of the rails themselves.

You can try to improve the tightness of the track-joint connections, or add one or more additional feeds to the remoter parts of the track, or both. If you add feeds, a separate home-run for each one is not needed. You should size the wire for resistance and for "ampacity", or safe current-carrying size.

AWG16 has a resistance of 4 ohms per 1000 feet, or 8 ohms for the complete circuit (both wires). This is probably no more than .2 ohms for the size of your layout and adequate to keep the voltage from dropping no more than 1 volt with a big train.

Your transformer can probably put out no more than about 5 amperes into a short circuit; so AWG16 is okay here. However, you would be wise to use AWG14 or AWG12, to avoid having to rewire if you do get a bigger transformer. These larger sizes are also very easy to find and cheap, since they are used for power wiring.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well put Bob!!! This only adds more fuel to my fire when it comes to problems with the new Fastrack system. These track joints really don't have the adjustability factor found in traditional track systems, so additional feeders may end up being your only solution.

[spankybird]

If your going to add feeders, which I also agree is needed. Then may I suggest using the Star or Homerun system, then if you ever add DCS it will already be wired for it.