WIRING! Why can't I do this?

[Anonymous]

HO 8' X12' DCC I want to hook up some bldg. lights and some street lamps. Why can't I run a bus and hook it to the tracks ??? Run the Bus top side. slit the foam and drop it in there and then to the track some where!

Thanks, DON

[Pennsy58]

I guess you could do it that way. Why connect to the tracks. Drop a bus line to underneath and wire it directly to the track bus. Don't forget that either way, the lighting bus will be carrying 12 volts. Use the correct bulbs and/or resistors.

[Medina1128]

If you're running DCC, then you will have constant voltage at the track, but if you add an MU consist to your circuit, my guess would be that the lights would dim or flicker when you fire up that train. Why not make a new buss with the correct voltage? I am using a common wire buss running around the layout. Kind of like the electrical outlets around your room. Then when I want to add another structure, the source of power is closeby. Besides, the more circuits you add to an existing circuit, the harder it is to troubleshoot should something go wrong.

[Anonymous]

I am using my old DC transformer for this purpose. Instead of hooking to the accessory outputs, I am connected to the main DC track output. This gives me the throttle to control the intensity of the lighting the same as a dimmer. Works great, and doesn't add additional load to the DCC system.

[MisterBeasley]

Christov's point about additional load is the big one. If you put your accessory lighting on the DCC bus, then you are adding to the current draw. The better DCC systems are limited to 5 amps, which must support all the locomotives, plus passenger car and caboose lighting if you have it. It makes more sense to keep building lights and other non-track items out from under this "salary cap."

Also, you may not always want the building lights on. When you're running in broad daylight, or when you are testing track, locomotives, etc., you don't necessarily want the lights on in the stations and factories. This is particularly true for incandescent lights, which have a finite lifetime and will last a lot longer if you only turn them on when you really want them.

[cheese3]

I would suggest wiring the lights to a seperate DC transformer so you can dim the lights and it will not take away from your DCC current.

[Anonymous]

OK Thanks I do have a couple of old DC transformers. I like that idea!

DON