Hi all,
I am at the stage of wiring my layout, as my layout is a small ho scale layout, I have opted to go DC (also, I'm still at high school and on a very strict budget). I was just wondering if it was possible to power a layout by using a bus for a positive and another for negative, with feeder wires to the main, and powering siding by throwing switches, with one loco running at a time.
Happywarrior
exactly how you said is how i am doing it, and for the power routing switches, try peco insulfrog. Good Luck!!
Samuel A. Kelly
I can draw pictures with my keyboard!
-------- ( It's a worm)
It is the Peco Electro-frog turnouts that are true power routing. That is, the siding is only powered when the siding route is selected when the track is fed from the point end. You will also need to gap the frog rail that goes to the mail-line to prevent the main-line from shorting out when the siding is selected.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
they are all power routing but insulfrog is ready to go exept for the shortest wheelbase locos.
Hi Happy,
You're running a small layout with a few siding and only running 1 loco at a time, I'd use the points to feed and isolate the sideings, with droppers at lead fishplates on first piont. You only need a bus or block wireing on bigger layouts or where you intend to run more locos.
If using Peco Insul points are OK but In HO/OO and N the frogs tend wear and can cause problems Electro's better, just read the bumf about isolating facing frogs that comes with the points.
Up to a simple rack plan? It'll show what you're up to.
Be in touch.
pick. (John)