I am planning on using DC control on a 2 foot X 8 foot layout because I will be using only one locomotive. Many modelers recommend using separate feeders to each piece of track so that all pieces of track are connected to a single bus for continous electrical flow. I know this is a good idea if I chose to move to DCC some day, but is it a good idea when doing DC with Atlas Code 100 Custom turnouts and an MRC transformer. What do you, MR gurus think? Please help.
A separate drop to each piece of track is, IMHO, something of an overkill - as long as there is a solid (soldered conducting metal) electrical path to every length of rail between insulating gaps. I solder wire jumpers around all the uninsulated rail joiners, and put the feeder in the approximate center of the whole.
It's what happens at the other ends of the drops that tells the story. I lead mine out to screw terminals. For DCC or single-controller DC (only one loco on the layout) the drops to each rail (other than reverse sections) can be jumpered together and connected to one leg of the power supply. For DC, cab control with common rail, the common rail sections remain jumpered together, while the power rail drops are connected at the terminal block to the leads from control panel cab selector switches. For DCC with two or more power districts, the jumpers become busses, and the drops are connected so that both rails in a power district are connected to that district's power output.
So, where should you place insulated gaps in the rails? That depends entirely on your track plan, and even the basics would make a sizeable book. The book for analog DC is Linn Westcott's How To Wire Your Model Railroad. Things to consider:
Hope this has been helpful.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Hi!
I agree with Chuck. A 2x8 layout needs very few feeders, and a set for every 3 - 5 ft or so of track is quite enough for DC, and 3 ft for DCC. I would solder track joints, and solid connections, but otherwise you will have more than enough juice to keep things running smoothly.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44 Hi! I agree with Chuck. A 2x8 layout needs very few feeders, and a set for every 3 - 5 ft or so of track is quite enough for DC, and 3 ft for DCC. I would solder track joints, and solid connections, but otherwise you will have more than enough juice to keep things running smoothly. ENJOY, Mobilman44
Howdy, Mobilman.
Don't lose any money betting that a 2x8 needs very few feeders! It all depends on the complexity.
I have a 15x96 inch module that has 30 (count 'em!) rail feeders, not counting those to hot frogs. Of course, that module (which is HOj, 1:80 scale) includes a passenger station, turntable, four track colliery loadout, several spots for mine and town supplies and an engine terminal that can service several teakettle tank steamers at once. There are advantages to modeling a prototype that runs short cars and small engines. Simple circuitry at the end-of-the-railroad terminal isn't one of them.
there's nothing like plenty of feeders. Btw, they work for Dc too. The electrons moving through the coper wire and nickel silver track work the same. With Dc you can turn the throttle up if the train slows as it gets further into the block. That's voltage drop, same as with DCC.