Starman,
Don't be toooo concerned about understanding everything at once. It's ok to start simple and make things more complex once you get started. You can run one train on your track using DC control with no special wiring. To run a second train, you need to make an isolated track section which you can switch off to park one train while the second one is running. To run both trains at once, you need two power-packs and wiring which allows you to "select" which power pack is connected to a particular track section. It does start getting complex quickly. DCC is expensive, but allows control of multiple trains, even at the same time, without the need for isolated, switchable sections of track.
J im
Dave Loman
My site: The Rusty Spike
"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"
You might want to look for the book Easy Model Railroad Wiring by Andy Sperandeo, published by Kalmbach. It will teach you some of the basics of the electrical side of a layout, and also give a good introduction to some more advanced topics. Some of the topics covered include choosing a power pack, two-rail wiring, cab control, locating blocks, turnout control, layout wiring and control panels. It has lots of good diagrams to help you see what you need to do. Also, Dave (Claymore1977) is a good resource, as you have already found out. You should visit his website for a good basic tutorial.
Above all, this is a hobby, so remember to have fun with the learning, and do not let it overwhelm you.
BTW, nobody else has said this, so it's time for your official to the forum.
FT
HO in the basement wrote: Hi Starman,I can't see "Beginners Guide TO Model Railroading" but do understand DC and (like you) don't want to go to DCC yet, so anyway email me at eisleyr@verizon.net and I'll help you out where I can.
Hi Starman,
I can't see "Beginners Guide TO Model Railroading" but do understand DC and (like you) don't want to go to DCC yet, so anyway email me at eisleyr@verizon.net and I'll help you out where I can.
I will add my help to the coffer. Post the track plan you are planning to use and I can draw up the DC Cab wiring for ya. Perhaps then you might take a different look at DCC :)
Starman wrote:it is just that i don't really understand all the basis of wiring
You don't seem to be very familiar with DC current so the DCC idea would definitely reduce the complex wiring indeed.And depending of how complicated your layout plan may be,DCC may not be much more expensive since you wouldn't need many of the controls required for block control.
However,if you have a rather simple layout and don't want to invest much not knowing if you'll stick to the hobby,then DC is your best bet in my opinion.Unfortunately,explaining the odds and ends of electrical circuits is not easy to do on a forum as answers may sometimes be more confusing than helping.Atlas has a book called "The complete Atlas wiring book" (book no. 12) that should be a good source for you to get started.It's not expensive and well worthed it for a beginner.
Modeloldtimer wrote: Welcome Starman,Go To the Atlas web site. Here you'll find the wiring infomation you want.Just click on (LAYOUTS) - (WIRING) Also you should read up on train operation and control with DCC. Http://atlasrr.com/wiring.htm
Welcome Starman,
Go To the Atlas web site. Here you'll find the wiring infomation you want.
Just click on (LAYOUTS) - (WIRING)
Also you should read up on train operation and control with DCC.
Http://atlasrr.com/wiring.htm
Please, please, please, Starman, you have to heed modeloldtimer's last bit of advice here. You are certainly going to get your answers, and you will eventually get it all working, but if we could convince you to consider a much simpler way, with many times more realism in the operations of your locomotives, would you do it?
If you are willing to get decoders installed in three or four of your engines, and to buy a basic DCC system, say all up for $400, you would not have to throw a single selector, wire so many connections, and it would take less than 1/3 of the time to get up and running if you began with DCC.
Just say no to selectors.
Signed: Selector
Modeloldtimer
I am new to this forum and also new to modeling but i have a question on wiring.I am modeling the Ohio Central Railroad in HO scale and have found a track plan in one of atlas books{Beginners Guide TO Model Railroading} PG 40-41 Have a track plan that i have built.I have all of the turnout's in place but now i have come to the point where i want to run 2 trains on this layout which my understanding you can do this.My question is about the wiring of the terminal track's that you need to do this.According to this track plan you have to block certain parts of the track and you have to add selector's to do this and i have gotten everything that i need to do this but i am not sure how to do this,i don't know if you have to run wires from both sets of screw's on the teminal tracks or do you need just one wire and also it say's that you have to run one wire to the common rail and when it get's to this i am lost.So if anyone out there has this book and can look at this plan and help me with this i would apprecatied.This is really a good track plan for me to start with if i can get some help with this problem of wiring.I am going to use plastic rail joiners because my sodering skill's are very bad so please if anyone has this book please help me.Thank you Starman