Wiring / Connecting Multiple Terminal Track Sections

[C&NW]

Bob,

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to write your response and to walk me through that.  Enjoy the weekend.

Paul

[lionelsoni]

Of course, the actual color of the wires doesn't matter; but, continuing to call them black and red for convenience whatever their actual color, all the black wires should be connected together wherever they are and to one of the transformer terminals and to the same one of the track rails at all three track-connection locations.  Likewise, all the red wires should be connected together  wherever they are and to the other one of the transformer terminals and to the other track rails at all three track-connection locations.

Now, just where the wires actually are doesn't matter much at all if they are reasonably heavy, like 14 AWG.  So you can connect three different pairs of feeder wires to the wires from the transformer, at the transformer, and run those feeders separately, as you have shown, to three places along the track.  Or, if it is more convenient, you can run one pair from the transformer to the first track-connection location, connect it to the track there, and then run another pair to the second location, and a third pair from there to the third location.  Or any other scheme that gets all three track locations connected back to the transformer.  Actually, with only three track connections, there are only four ways to hook it up:

o  Three feeders from the transformer individually to the track connections.

o  Two feeders from the transformer to two of the track connections, then a feeder from one of those track connections to the third track connection.

o  One feeder from the transformer to one of the track connections, then two feeders from there individually to the other two track connections.

o  One feeder from the transformer to one of the track connections, then one feeder from there to the second track connection, then one feeder from there to the third track connection.

There is no reason to use any lighter wire at all except for the convenience of making the connections to the track, which may be mechanically difficult using 14 AWG or heavier wire.  That is why I suggest using a short piece of smaller wire between the track itself and the ends of however many heavy feeders have a junction at that track location.  A few inches of moderately smaller wire will not spoil the advantage that the heavy wire gives in reducing voltage drop.

If you have only one feeder to connect to the transformer, you can just connect it directly.  If you have more than one feeder to connect to the transformer, you can make a junction near the transformer to combine the feeders and a short piece of wire (using a wire nut) which you can then connect to the transformer.  Unless there is some problem with connecting the 14 AWG to the CW80 termnals, there is no need to use smaller wire to connect to the transformer.

[C&NW]

Thank you for your comments.  I think I'm following you.  Let me try to verify with a little graphic as shown below.

= is Fastrack provided wires (red and black) 

= is 14 gauge wire (red and black)

                                                                       ========== ======Terminal Trac 1 w/ two wires 

TRANSFORMER w/ two wires ======   ==========  ======Terminal Trac 2 w/ two wires

                                                                       ==========   ======Terminal Trac 3 w/ two wires

The red TRANSFORMER wire is connected to the three 14 gauge red wires with a single wire nut (likewise for the black).  Then each 14 gauge red and black wire are connected to their red and black counterparts on EACH terminal track with a wire nut.  

Is this correct?

Should I try to take the 14 gauge wire and attach it directly to the terminal track (i.e.  avoid the smaller "=======" connecting wires supplied with the terminal track? 

I'm a good accountant but I wish my high school would have REQUIRED a basic shop class.  I just want to get the track stuff set before I start adding scenery and ground cover.   Thanks again.  Paul

                                             

[lionelsoni]

What you're using is called a "wire nut".  It is a very good way to make the connection, as long as you don't use a nut too large for the bunch of wires you're connecting.  The package they come in often has a long list of combinations of wires of various sizes that the nuts are suitable for.

It seems like you have run feeders separately from the transformer to the three connection points on the track.  That's okay, but you may have been able to save wire by chaining from one connection to another.  Too late for that.

Be sure to use wire that is substantially heavier than the track itself, that is, at least 14 AWG.  If it is hard to make a connection to the track with heavy wire, just use a short piece of the heaviest that you can manage and connect that to the heavier wire (with a wire nut!) under the table.  This also makes it easier to remove the track if you ever need to.

Try running your F3s together but uncoupled.  If they move at nearly the same speed, they can be coupled together.  But, if they run at significantly different speeds, they will fight each other and draw more current than they should.  An advantage that the older universal motors had over the modern can motors was that matching the speed wasn't very important.

[ChiefEagles]

Without going into a lot of electrical "gobblie gook", this should work.  The CW80 is not my favorite transformer but runs a lot of trains in the USA.  Should run the F-3's.

[C&NW]

Hello all and happy Friday,

In order to facilitate consistent power throughout a roughly 11' x 8' loop, I have incorporated 3 terminal track sections (I use Fastrack and a Lionel CW80 transformer).  I have connected each of the two feeder wires from the transformer (red and black) to their 3 terminal track counterparts in a bundle using two of those plastic (thimball type) twisting connectors.

Aside from soldering the wires, is there a better way to achieve the connection?

Also, will a CW80 transformer adequately power an A-A lash-up where each A unit has dual motors?  I have 2 Williams F-3s that I'd like to run together.  Anything else I should know regarding this? 

Thanks much for your help!