Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

I am going to need some advice

1107 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 3 posts
Posted by recon78 on Saturday, March 6, 2010 2:39 PM
Thank You Jeffrey, We will be running 2 engines to start, based on your answer I can run a wire from my power panel to the far end of the track into a terminal and then maybe half-way back run a feeder into another terminal?, good tip on the rail joiners. Thanks again, Henry
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, March 6, 2010 1:58 PM

 The EZ-Track connector wires come in several types, all with the EZ-Track connector at one end. One type has the phono type plug on one end, another has spade type connectors that are made to slide under screw connectors and still another has just bare wire ends. Can you use these to connect to the track with your DCC system? Absolutely! Do you need to run heavy 14 gauge wires along your track to run feeders from? No. You just need a type wire that's a better conductor that nickle-silver. I used all nickle silver EZ-Track on my layout and I have over 130' feet of track. Unless you're going to be running a dozen or so sound engines all at once you should be able to run a good quality track wire under the EZ-Track sections and have it plug into a terminal section every 10 to 20 feet. For electrical purposes you can solder the rail joiners to insure that corrosion won't break the contact where the rails meet.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 3 posts
I am going to need some advice
Posted by recon78 on Saturday, March 6, 2010 1:40 PM
Since my son is fascinated with the Polar Express; for his birthday I managed to suspend a track above his room and put together an HO version of the engine and passenger cars. He really seems to like trains so I figured to use a DCC system in case he would like to expand later and I purchased an NCE PowerCab. All together is about 40' of track and it came out a lot better than I thought it would, I used EZ track from Bachman and this is where I get confused. The manual from NCE assumes that I know too much about wiring because when I look at the connectors from the power panel and the terminals from the EZ track it does not look like it will work. After reading a few hints here and there I now ask: Do I need to run 14 ga wire along the track and tie into it every 5 feet? Do I use the connectors from the EZ Track at all? Does the wiring from the power panel in the Powercab go to the track at all? I wish that there was a simple set of instructions on how to set up a basic DCC system, wood and tile I know about but electricity was always my weakness, I guess I have to start sometime. Any help will be appreciated. Henry

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!