feeders

[Anonymous]

Is the recommended number of track feeder based on per ft running track or is it the number of sections of track ? Ground runs, how many feeders and should you connect both outside rails with the feeders? Thanks, just would rather do it right from the start. My intention was to use 14g wire for feeders and 12g for the runs to the feeders. Does that sound okay.
Ralph[:D]

[Big_Boy_4005]

The wire size sounds just fine. It is a good idea to have matching power and ground feeds. Ground connections to both outside rails depends on what kind of track you're using. Atlas and Gargraves have nonconductive ties, so they would benefit from feeds to both outside rails. All other brands have connections built in.

The key to how many are needed is more a function of track joints, and the quality of their contact. It is possible to only feed a large loop from a single point, though I wouldn't recommend it. 6 to 12 feet between drops should be plenty.

I do every 3 feet, but it's way too much.[swg]

[jlrocks]

Big_Boy_4005---I am using 031 track and running #14 wire. Hot to the center rail and a ground to one outside rail. Should I be running a ground to both outside rails? JLROCKS

[TexasEd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jlrocks

Big_Boy_4005---I am using 031 track and running #14 wire. Hot to the center rail and a ground to one outside rail. Should I be running a ground to both outside rails? JLROCKS

No need unless you are using insulated track sections. The outside rails are already connected together through the metal ties.

[yallaen]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005


The key to how many are needed is more a function of track joints, and the quality of their contact. It is possible to only feed a large loop from a single point, though I wouldn't recommend it. 6 to 12 feet between drops should be plenty.

I do every 3 feet, but it's way too much.[swg]

I was looking for this answer myself! Ok, so, what is the preferred method to get those feeders every 6-12 feet? Obviously, you cant have 10 feeders coming into your terminals...so what's a way to manage this mess?

[lyle_styles]

Hello,

You could use terminal strips to bring all the feeders into one spot and then wire the terminal strip to the transformer.

Most any store with electrical supplies should have some type of terminal strip and MTH also makes a nice one.

You can get the basic terminal strips alot cheaper than what the MTH one costs but the MTH one is really nice. I have both underneath my layout.

Hope this may help,

Lyle R Ehlers

[Big_Boy_4005]

OK guys, here's what I do on my layout.

I run my main power and ground wires, following the tracks above. Then I use what is sometimes called a suitcase connector to tie the wires coming from the rails into the main trunk wires. Only one end of the trunk wires go back to the power source.

There are different manufacturers, but the idea is the same. Using a pair of pliers, you cru***he "guillotine" which cuts through the insilation on the wires, making a quick and easy connection. The blue one is for larger wires and the red one for smaller wires. The continuous wire slips in the outer slot, and the drop wire from the track goes into the hole on the hinge side.



Here is a shot of some of my wiring. The black wires are the ground wires. Since there were a bunch from different tracks, I tied them together with a standard wire nut, then ran a single wire out to the trunk and only used one suitcase. The red power leads are on different circuits for each track, and are tied into their respective mains with a blue suitcase. The yellow wire in the photo is a detection wire. It's trunk is a smaller gauge, so the red suitcase was used.



All Electronics sells these.

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category/196550/Quick_Splice.html

[fwright]

I have a smaller layout (4x8), but I run a loop of 16 gauge bare copper antenna wire (Radio Shack used to carry) all the way around the table, set about 6 inches in from the edge. This is my common return. The size is adequate only because of the doubling effect of a continuous loop. I just drop the common feeders down, sand a clean spot on the bare wire using emery cloth, and solder the connection. 18 gauge is used for the short distance feeders from the track or accessory to the common bus.

For the "hot" side (center rail) I run 14 gauge to terminal blocks at a couple of places on the layout. I tie the 18-20 gauge feeders to the hot bus at the terminal strips. I do the same for the fixed voltage accessory feed.

I use smaller wire because I have at most 1 KW and 1 1033 powering the layout. As Bob Nelson says wire size should be chosen on the basis of short circuit currents, not normal load. The house wiring rating of the size wire in amps is a good guide. Common return carries the total current of the layout.

yours in wiring
Fred W

[laz 57]

I use feeders every three to four feet like BIGBOY said its probably overkill but my trains always have power.
laz57

[Buckeye Riveter]

I wire my track at about 6-8 feet intervals, alternating right and left rails. I also use the suit case taps that Big Boy describes and they are great and simple. I buy mine at Home Depot and Lowes.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the information, I have control panel with 10 DPDT switches for up to 10 blocks on the layout. The A and D handle of ZW is connected to terminal strip and then each is wired from there to the two sides of the swithches, then from switches back to terminal strip and then they will go out to the blocks from there. This allows me to switch power to blocks from A to D handle of the ZW. So I will have ten 12g wires from strip to various blocks. I thought I would try to make my blocks no shorter than my longest trains I would normally operate. I have connectors called "tap" connecters. I think they operate on the same principle as "suitcase" connectors , that is continuous run feeds thru the top and you can connect 2-3 wires to other end for feeders to the track. Has anyone else used these, I think I picked them up at WalMart in the automotive wiring section.

[yallaen]

Someone mentioned blocks...

Now, with the advent in the HO hobby of DCC..blocks are really obsolute now, right? DOesn't Lionel make a similar version of DCC? Wouldn't that make "blocking" obsolete?

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by yallaen

Someone mentioned blocks...

Now, with the advent in the HO hobby of DCC..blocks are really obsolute now, right? DOesn't Lionel make a similar version of DCC? Wouldn't that make "blocking" obsolete?

Even if you are using command control (DCC, TMCC, and DCS) blocks are important. A better name for them might be "power districts". You still want to have the track broken up into blocks for power distribution, even if you don't need it for train control.

My layout may end up having 80 to 90 blocks. If there's a short in any one block, the rest of the layout keeps running.

[jlrocks]

Thanks for all the feedback on this issue. I am using 14 ga for my feeder and also dropping a 14ga to the track every 6 ft or so. I am also using the suitcase connectors that Big Boy mentioned. All of this is connected via the terminal block. Works great.