Would appreciate some advice on a proper power supply for the Digitrax Super Chief Xtra set and also what is the recommended spacing for the UP 5 panels on a layout. Is the distance for feeder wires every 6, 9, or 10 feet along the layout. I have received many opinions on this subject, the power supply and the spacing of the UP 5 panels. As always there are many great sages on this DCC forum.Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
The Magna Force power supply is what I use for my DB150 and I have been perfectly happy with it.
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=110013
UP5 spacing is what works for you with regard to convenience of the location regarding throttle cable lengths.
I don't use a fixed distance for feeders. For long runs of flex track I will solder 3 x 3' sections together and have one set of feeders in the middle. For more complex track work I will make sure that every piece of track has a set of feeders or is soldered to a piece that does have feeders. My golden rule is to never rely on a press fit track joiner for electrical conduction between my power bus and a track section anywhere.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Digitrax makes a 5 amp power supply (so it would stand to reason that they would know the exact type of supply the Command Station takes)!
The plug in Throttles have a 15 foot coil cord or so, on most of their non radio controllers - I figured that the Throttle Coil Cord should stretch enough so that it is not over stretched so I put the UP5 panels about 10 feet apart, or less, in most areas where there may need to have more than one operator.
As for drop wires - every 3 ft section of track has a set of drop wires and drop wires on each end of a turnout (3 sets). One can never have too many drop wires!
BUT ! It is real easy to not have enough and then trying to figure out why certain engines don't want to work properly can be really hard to figure out as one would NEVER think that the LACK of drop wires may be causing the problem.
I solder every section of track, except at the Block Junctions!
My layout is now over 10 years old and I do NOT have to do any track maintenance - which is just great!
With over 3300 feet of track and 450 turnouts - maintenance could be a nightmare! ;-)
BOB H - Clarion, PA