This sounds like you are running straight DC, not DCC is that correct?
If it is DCC, adding power feeds every section or two will definitely help.
If you are running DC, it sure sounds like you have either dirty track ( poor electrical pickup down the pike ), or, more likely poor connections at the track joiners.
If it is poor connection at the rail joiners, each poor connection adds a little resistance to current flow, just like adding a real carbon resistor. This will in turn drop the voltage ( I X R ) at each of these higher resistance connections. That is why the speed gets higher as you approach the voltage source and drops as you go further away from the voltage source.
The KATO rerailer has a hole that you insert the track joiner to be removed. I havent used it yet. But that time will come.
You are learning about how far a model engine can travel without starving of electricity. Installing a second power input (Minding the each wire to the proper rail) will help alot.
I throw my Kato Switches with the Digitrax DS-64 which work straight out of the box but requires loconet, the command station, power supply and throttle to work.
Having a place with power going to the rails every so often.. 3 to 6 feet apart will improve your operation as the engine will "Think" that it is very near your power pack.
You would need to remove the existing joiners from a piece of track on your layout and replace the joiners with the terminal joiner (24-818) that has the power leads attached. They would connect to the power pack with a 24-843 Terminal Adapter Cord.
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
How did you add an extra power lead? I looked up the part # above, and not sure how to plug in multiple power leads into my Kato PowerPack?
Thanks
I have a 6x4 foot oval of unitrack and added two extra power feeders inorder to get the locomotives to run at a consistent speed around the track. Another power supply isn't needed, the problem is the power loss thru the track connections.
Don
Kato makes a joiner with leads attached that will allow you to run power to the far side of your layout. The joiner replaces one of the existing joiners....I think it is:
You could extend the leads back to your power pack if the 35" isn't long enough.
I have a Kato Unitrack (HO) Powerpack (model 22-014) on my HO layout, and it seems there is not enough power (ie. my engines run faster closer to where the power enters the track)...
Can I add an additional Kato powerpack on the other end of my layout? without any issues?
Any other advice? I like the Kato powerpacks becuase I also have the switch turnout controllers that plug into the side of the powerpack...
Thanks for any advice on this -
InterFX