power on the rails

[Anonymous]

hey everyone,
so how do you hook 2 connections to a track? do you use 2 transformers? i am running 2 tracks of 12x5 each with with one mth Z750. 1 is and 42" curve and the other is 54". It works fine I think but I want to go bigger and add switches, this probably would not be enough power would it. I also would like to add switches to connect the tracks. How would this work? Anyone have any Idea?
John

[More to restore]

Hi,
How much power does your transformer have? When it is more than abot 25 Watt, you will be fine. A frequent problem can originate from loose railpins and that is why I have connections every 5 feet track distance. Every non-ideal track connection is another resistor added to your layout, so that is why I had a parallel current line with connections soldered on every 5 feet or so. I use old tracks and that might make things worse, perhaps Fastracks are better, I do not know, I am old-fashioned...

[Anonymous]

yes i am using mth real trax. same as fast trak. but i want to add 2 switches to make 2 loops of track combined into one. I want to be able to run 2 trains at once. the z750 is 75 watts. do you think this is enough power or can you hook a seperate transformer to each track?

[wrmcclellan]

trainmaster,

If you are running one or two trains (without too many lighted cars) you will be fine.

If you want to run two trains independently on the two loops, then you will need another transformer to control the second track.

Thor has some nice layout ideas here:

http://thortrains.net/oldlay.htm

The pictures show many configurations of loops and switches that should give you some ideas.

BTW - if you decide to run two independent loops, you will need to add insulating pins to the center rail if you connect the two loops with switches.

Regards,
Roy

[overall]

I think I should point out that modern locomotives draw much less current than post war and even the later LTI locomotives do. If you decide to buy a post war Hudson, you may find that it make voltage drop more pronounced.

George

[Anonymous]

thanks for all the help. Why do you need the insulated pin on the center rails and are they in the center of the switches where you put the pins?

[lionelsoni]

You put the insulating pin in so that the two transformers do not try to run each other instead of the trains. It goes anywhere between the two parts of the layout that you want to control separately.

Notice that, if you do it this way, when a train crosses from one loop to the other, it will connect the two transformers together momentarily despite the insulating pin. This is not a good thing, since a fault current will flow between the transformers. The greater the difference in their voltage settings, the greater the current. This is why I keep advising against simply powering two loops from different transformers. (Powering them from multiple outputs of the same transformer is even worse, since the fault current will not trip the circuit breaker.)

Instead, you should get a couple of single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) center-off electrical switches. Use one switch for each loop. Connect the common terminal of the switch to the center rail of the loop. Connect the other two terminals to the outputs of your two transformers. Then you can use these switches to power each loop from whichever transformer you choose, or shut it off in the center position. To cross between loops, power both of them from the same transformer, then cross.

You may find it handy to divide your track into more than two sections, or blocks, with an SPDT switch for each one. That way you can control two trains separately on different parts of the same loop, which will make swapping loops easier for one thing.

[Anonymous]

sounds really confusing. spdt switches and blocks. do you know of a website that might explain it with pictures. That might help.

[Anonymous]

Go to Thor's website that Roy linked in his post above. If you don't find a diagram of a "crossover" (two connected turnouts with a center rail gap or insulated pin between them) between parallel tracks of the two separate ovals there, e-mail me and we will try again.
Basically, a "block" is simply a separate power district controlled by a separate transformer and insulated from other power districts/transformers by cutting a gap in the center rail or putting a fibre insulating pin in place of the center rail's metal connecting pin.

For now first get a grasp of the physical track "crossover" configuration we are confusing you about. Then focus on the electrical effect, problems and necessary steps of crossing over-----O-gaugers have been doing it successfully for years.