Hi,i am trying to be able to shut off and restore power to my 3 ho sidelines! do i need insulating connectors and some sort of on off switch? any help would be appreiciated.I want to be able to park 2 other locos while running the third!thanx John
I assume you are using DC power. Yes, you need to insulate each section of track that you want to be able to shut off. You can put an insulated connector on each rail or you can choose a common rail and only insulate one side. Your electrical switch wants to be on the side with the insulated sections. Stub sidings only need to be insulated inside the switch, passing sidings need to be insulated just inside the switch at each end. I'd suggest you get a book on wiring either from MR or Atlas. I have an older Atlas book, even if you don't use their components it gives you a good idea how to wire your layout under many different situations. I've never read the MR book, but I'm sure it would be very helpful.
Good luck,
Hi and thanx for the info.I am using dc power and 3 stub lines,if that means ending lines? I have 4 switch track,one off the main line and the rest at each stub.Will the switch track work to shut ower off and on,what did you mean by "putting the insulator in the switch track"? Where would i be able to find the MR book? Thanx for all your advice,as i am putting the finishing touches on my 4X12, 2 level layout and haven't played with trains since i was just a child,late 1960's! Thanx again,Johnnyt
johnnyt Where would i be able to find the MR book?
Where would i be able to find the MR book?
Andy Sperandeo's Easy Model Railroad Wiring, Second Edition at Amazon (link), hobby shops, or from this site directly.
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If I knew how to post a drawing this would be easier, but I'll try to explain.
Some brands of switches have power routing, Peco's electrofrog is one brand, but I have never used any power routing switches. This type of switch does route the power in the direction the switch is turned. I think there are other brands that do, but I'm not sure what they are.
I will try to describe how to set up non power routing switches. You have your first switch which takes you off the mainline, then the others form the ladder. All the switches in the ladder should receive their power fron the switch coming off the mainline. You need to insulate each line coming off a switch and both lines coming off the last switch in the ladder.
To insulate each track you have to use insulating rail joiners, should be available at your Local Hobby Shop.
If your LHS does not have a book on wiring, you could ask them to order one for you or you could order one directly from MR. If you do order directly, I'd suggest you look at the other books available on scenery, track planning and other subjects you may want to learn more about.
Where are you located? Is there a good model railroading hobby shop near you or do you have to order things on-line?
Hope this helps.
Have fun,