Hi, my husband and I are starting to research, design & plan a G-scale outdoor/garden track and he just happened upon a picture that showed a lightening hit to his track and it destroyed the electronics.
Has anyone "grounded" their track for just this problem?
Thanks for the info.!
the best thing to do is create a point in the wiring where you can physically dissconnect the electronics from the layout when not in use. not by switches, but plugs. the tracks is already grounded to the ballast when wet. just as a side note, because of that grounding affect, the power will need to be of slughtly higher amperage to compensate. i found that out when the power supply i had would not make anything move even at full throttle. found that all the power was going right into the ground. a higher amp power supply over came that problem.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
The odds of a lightning strike hitting your G-scale track is probably less than those of your getting hit by a lightning bolt.
Of course it could happen but it is highly unlikely. If the lighting did hit nearby and jumped to your track you might have more problems than just frying your electronics. I have my transformer in a tool box which I bring out to my layout then plug in to power and the track. I don't leave anything electronic including engines out in the weather. Of course if you have electric switch machines those might get fried.
I say the chances of lightning hitting your RR is rare.
Good luck and happy RRing
I have a pair of 20 pin “Cannon Plugs” that allow me to disconnect the entire control panel to move indoors for storage. I’m an “Analog Dinosaur” so everything has a wire to it. If you are still concerned after removing the electronics, erect a flag pole else where in the yard (lightening rod).
Tom Trigg
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