I am starting a new layout in a 12' by 13' room. The plan has 2 levels around the room and a staging yard connected with a helix, using a 2 cab DC system with 2 power packs,an MRC 260 Tech 4 and and MRC Tech 2 1400. My question is will these 2 be enough to power the layout?
Thank You
Peter Poulin
Yes.
But...
If you are using two power packs with DC, then I presume that you will be setting up some sort of block control so that you can select which power pack is using a particular track. Easy enough to do.
Either pack will power one train very nicely, even if you tie two or three locomotives together on the point.
The ISSUE IS GETTING THE POWER TO THE LOCOMOTIVES. Rail joiners alone will not do it because they may not have good connectivity. Soldered rail joints are better. You did not say how many blocks you will have and how long they will be. If the blocks are short and you have many of them, you will have no problem getting power to all points of the layout. But if power districts are long, then you will need to bring up new feeders from a power bus every 3 to 6 feet.
The Problem is not "Enough Power" but Power Distribution.
ROAR
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What SCALE layout? What brand/type of locomotives? Older DC powered locomotives can draw substantial current due to their primitive motor technology (open frame motors), and will require more power.
2 cab 2 power pack DC implies 2 trains running, one per power pack. Either of those units has sufficient power to run a train, even a pair of older blue box athearn locos on each one, so you should be fine.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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