Is there a source that explains DC wiring for novices? All the books on the subject I've seen leave me asking "what"? I need something like "DC Wiring for Dummies", or something that takes me step by step through the process.
Andrew, there is just soooooooo much stuff out there, it's hard to imagine that some of it doesn't answer your questions.
Once I advanced past the basic oval, and the plywood central start expanding, I wanted to get into cab control, so I found a Kalmach book by Linn Westcott, called "HO Primer, Model Railroading For All." He does a great job going through everything, using Atlas controls, and using toggle switches as an alternative.
Also, Atlas has published tons of book, with all kinds of diagrams, of course promoting their line of switches and controls, but it all can be done with simple toggle switches.
In it's most basic form, with an oval of track, and the basic power pack/transformer, two wires from the DC terminals on the transformer, go to the track, one to each rail. Plug in transformer, and run the train.
If you are a subscriber to MR, there is a wealth of information you can find in here.
What particular part do you need help with?
Mike.
My You Tube
Here is an example of what is available out there. One example of a Google search.
Organize your Favorites list in your browser to keep different examples of wiring.
Do a search for model railroad soldering.
http://tinyurl.com/hpnm6lb
Your PC is as powerful as ours.
Good luck.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Hello all,
When got back in to the hobby I picked up The Complete Atlas Wiring Book; Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc., 2011.
Some say that it is nothing more than an advertisement for Atlas products. Yes, it based on Atlas products but it is much more for $8.95.
It explains DC wiring, block control, single- and multi-cab control along with reversing loops and wyes. In, what I found to be, an easy to understand manner.
For those with a DIY penchant it also gives the schematics of all the Atlas products listed so you can make your own.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Welcome to the forums.
Years ago I had very good luck with the Atlas book. Next layout in the planning, haven't gotten to the wiring yet.
Good luck,
Richard
A battery has two ends... Pne is (+) and the other is (-).
Take a plain 9 volt battery, put the (-) pole on the left rail and the (+) pole on the right rail, and the locomotive will move forward. Turn the battery around and the locomotive will move the outher way.
THAT is about as simple as it can get.
Now then, your power supply has several terminals on the back of it. One pair is labled "Track" one is (+) and the other (-), and the reversing switch swaps these values. The control knob sets the voltage making the train go faster and slower. You simply wire this to the tracks, and the train can go faster and slower and it can go foward and reverse.
[The other pair is labled "Accessories" it is a constant voltage (the lable says what that is) and it is usually AC but it could be DC. Lets ignore that for noww.
If you have a loop of track (that is simple!) It will work just fine. But if you add a siding, and another locomotive then you need a way to turn off the first locomotive so that you can run the second. You do this by installing gaps in your tracks and wiring certain sections separately. So if you have a loop with a passing track you could use some toggle switches to turn the power on and off to certain tracks. And that is simple enough, but all of a sudden you have more tracks that need more wires.
And if the loop is very big, you may find your train slowing down at the far end and then speeding up again. This is because tracks have resistance. So you need to wire your tracks in several places. (And if your train makes mystery stops then you have at least two bad rail joiners. (LIONS solder their rail joiners, but you did as for simple if I recall, and if you are still at the stage where you are trying different things you do now want to damage the tracks in that way, but you will run into more porblems with the rail joiners.
OK, whe you are ready for the next steps, the LION will alsways be here to help you...
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good advice on the various how-to guides to DC wiring. I'll bet it will still seem intimidating, though. The key is to start wiring in a specific area of track and to keep testing as you make each connection. Have a test loco on that piece of track and confirm you still can control it as you add to and expand the area you have wired. Mistakes are inevitable but the testing process catches them as you go. Correct each one before you proceed further and pretty soon things will be running right. You'll also learn to troubleshoot, an essential skill, by keeping each issue confined to something specific -- what you last did -- rather than getting hit with an unmanageable mess of problems if you instead delay troubleshooting until after doing a bunch of wiring.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL