I am in the process of expanding a layout originally Bachman EZ track....had previously used single feeder set from Digitrax system. Am expanding using flex track and atlas turnouts. how often should I be using feeder wires, as I seem to have dead sections. Basically these are between turnouts.
In general, I want a feeder every other piece of physical track. That can be relaxed a bit if you solder your rail joiners in place on short sections.
There are two reasons for multiple feeders. First, nickel-silver rail isn't close to copper for transmitting power, so you get a lot of voltage loss along a section of rail and a lot less along your bus. Second, every un-soldered rail joiner is a potential gap, where nothing gets through. Using these principles, you can judge for yourself depending on your track configuration.
Or, put a feeder on every section of track. You can never have too many feeders.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
You may well need more feeders but if you have truly dead sections, you need to find out why. I use a 16v flashlight bulb with wires soldered to its base as a tester, putting one lead on each rail. Check all three tracks leading into/from the turnout. If power is present at one leg but not at another (one or two) then installing a feeder to the dead area will solve your problem. But there may also be something wrong with the turnout. Best to find out.
If there are other dead spots, why? Loose rail joiner? Reversing section shorting out? The little light bulb tester is cheap and very easy to use. The solution may be more feeders but first know why a section is dead.
PCNDon I Am expanding using flex track and atlas turnouts. how often should I be using feeder wires, as I seem to have dead sections. Basically these are between turnouts.
I Am expanding using flex track and atlas turnouts. how often should I be using feeder wires, as I seem to have dead sections. Basically these are between turnouts.
If you have a dead section; you need a feeder there.
Not all turnouts route power efficiently.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Adding feeders willy-nilly might not solve your problem: installing them incorrectly or in the wrong places might actually cause shorts. Are the dead spots in just the new track or in the original or both? What kind of new turnouts are you using and how do they relate to each other? Please show us a layout plan.
Dante