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DCC Wiring

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  • Member since
    December 2015
  • 2 posts
DCC Wiring
Posted by farmhand on Friday, January 22, 2016 8:56 PM

Starting my first layout.  I’ve almost completed an around the room perimeter table about 12’ x 12’ with a side loop  (Strange looking figure 8). Also ordered a Sprog 3 DCC controler to be run with JMRI software.  I’m not a programer nor electrician so I will be posting more questions later.

  1. Does this system work best using bus wires splitting off to feeders?

  2. What size bus and feeder wires should I run?

Thanks for the help Big Smile

Tags: Sprog JMRI
  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 1,047 posts
Posted by betamax on Monday, January 25, 2016 5:58 PM

farmhand

Starting my first layout.  I’ve almost completed an around the room perimeter table about 12’ x 12’ with a side loop  (Strange looking figure 8). Also ordered a Sprog 3 DCC controler to be run with JMRI software.  I’m not a programer nor electrician so I will be posting more questions later.

  1. Does this system work best using bus wires splitting off to feeders?

  2. What size bus and feeder wires should I run?

Thanks for the help Big Smile

 

You can read all about DCC Wiring here:

https://www.dccwiki.com/Wiring

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 10:32 AM

Nice Red Dog. DCC is not for LIONS, him might run five Microsoft Servers and 30 workstations, but DCC... Too Complicated for a LION. Here is realy box of LION:

See. Simple. LIONS *like* simple.

I have a spare bridge in Brooklyn, anybody want to buy a bridge? : )

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 12:26 PM

Welcome Farmhand

I would do a little more research on the type of DCC comand station you choose.

It will be one of your larger investments and you don't want to have to spend your money twice. There are lots of choices in this area and many opinions from users of the various manufacturers.

I use Digitrax and I'm completely satisfied with it BUT in my case a friend was selling his system at a very reasonable price and that narrowed down my choice.

I only mention this because you mention the SPROG which is a powerful DCC programming tool and it can be used for operating a small layout using the JMRI software interface, however, it is rather limited as far as expandability and future capacity. If you plan to use smartphone throttles though, the Sprog3 will probably serve your needs.

DCC can be overwhelming at first glance but if you do a little more research here and at the manufacturers websites you can learn more about what may best serve your needs without having to make a large initial investment.

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Sebring FL
  • 842 posts
Posted by floridaflyer on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 1:16 PM

Would recomend 14ga stranded for the buss and 22ga solid for the feeders

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 1:53 PM

farmhand
Also ordered a Sprog 3 DCC controler to be run with JMRI software.  I’m not a programer nor electrician

Implementing DCC on the Sprog will be more demanding from both a programming and a wiring standpoint, so that may not be the easiest path (given your statement above). DCC systems from NCE or Digitrax (among others) are pretty much plug-and-play.

Good luck with your layout.

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Chicago area
  • 335 posts
Posted by Arto on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 2:28 PM

When I started to refurbish and upgrade my 30+ year old layout in preparation for DCC I used 10 gauge stranded (insulated) for the bus and 18 gauge stranded for the feeders.

When replacing the track I retained all the insulated blocks as I had with DC. Each section of track is wired to feeders. Each block has a minimum of 5 pairs of 18 gauge feeders (10 gauge equivalent). All metal track joiners are soldered. All feeder/bus connections are soldered.

Overkill? Absolutely. But there is NO voltage drop anywhere and no current limitations (for a model railroad of course). 

And don't forget to twist the bus and feeder wires. To twist the bus wires I secured a pair to a wall or ladder in the garage, and the other end went into the variable power drill chuck. Made quick work of twisting a 50' pair of insulated 10 gauge wire.

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