power for layout

[Anonymous]

I am having a problem with steady current in the tracks. the track is 18X20 or 58 feet of track. Are the track connectors dirty or do I need to up grade the transformer from 150 watts to something larger. Any help would be great. I am only powering the train.

[Seamonster]

[#welcome] Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll get lots of replies and help, so I'll just throw in my [2c] worth to kick things off. Are the locomotive wheels clean? Is the track clean? Even if they don't look dirty, there could be enough crud to impede current flow. Are you depending on rail joiners to carry the current throughout the layout? They could be loose. It's not a good idea to depend on rail joiners for electrical connections anyway. Most people will provide multiple feeds to the track, maybe solder some joiners to the rails (leaving a few unsoldered for expansion/contraction), or solder jumper wires around the joiners. Are all the electrical connections tight--soldered joints well soldered, lugs tight under screw terminals, splices soldered or crimped securely? It could be lots of things. Even gremlins. [:)]

[Anonymous]

thanks... ive got the solder gun going. Solder each joiner thats alot. Im going to try a jumper every 7 or 8 feet. You know I will end up soldering every joiner.

[selector]

I think he suggested to solder SOME of the joiners, and to leave some free for sliding when the humidity and temperature changes try to bend the track out of line. A completely soldered track would act like a rigid one and deflect out of alignment with changes in conditions.

[Seamonster]

No, not every joiner or you could wind up with a rollercoaster if your layout is subjected to temperature and humidity fluctuations. Leaving unsoldered joints every 3-5 feet should do it. Also, it's a good idea not to solder track to turnouts. If something ever happens to the turnout and it has to be replaced, you'd have one heck of a time removing it if it were soldered to. Try putting in a feed to every section of track that is not soldered at both ends. You can never have too many power feeds to the track. Wire is cheap.