erosebud I'm grateful for your opinions and recommendations, and embarrassed at having neglected to say that I'll be installing the NCE five-amp system. As far as I can tell, this wouldn't affect any of the advice offered so far, but if there's something special I should consider, please weigh in. Thanks again.
I'm grateful for your opinions and recommendations, and embarrassed at having neglected to say that I'll be installing the NCE five-amp system. As far as I can tell, this wouldn't affect any of the advice offered so far, but if there's something special I should consider, please weigh in. Thanks again.
Well, in that case you can still use the PR3 as a stand-alone programmer, but it won't work to interface your computer with your NCE system since NCE and Digitrax use completely different command bus architectures.
Your choices for that would be either the NCE USB adapter, or a serial connection from your computer to the serial port on your command station. More info here.
I'd go with Elmer's recommendation to locate the command station in approximately the middle of the layout. His suggestions for the plug-in locations are right-on, too.
I'd also go with Joe's recommendation to put the programming track in the staging area, but with one change (if you are in fact using Digitrax): I'd use a PR3 and it's stand-alone programming outputs in the staging area, rather than extending the CS's programming leads.
The PR3 would serve the double-duty of connecting your computer to the LocoNet, and with a power supply in the 16-18VDC range, the PR3 will easily program sound decoders that often can be problematic.
For now, I would wire the layout for multiple districts, but it's not necessary to immediately add breakers. If you isolate sections of track and maintain separate power buses, it's easy to add breakers later if you feel you need them. You seem to have a reverse loop in the lower left corner. If you wire that with an autoreverser, you basically get a "district" for free, because it must be isolated and the autoreverser will also serve as a breaker in case of a dead short.
You didn't say what kind of system you have. If the command station functions as a throttle, like a Digitrax Zephyr, then you'll want it accessible. Otherwise, the best location is going to be centrally located, so the track and control buses to the far ends will be kept short.
I've got a Lenz system. I bought the appropriate jacks from an electronics supply place for a fraction of the cost of the fancy units sold by Lenz. I put one every 5 or 6 feet all the way around the layout. That way, I never have to stretch my throttle cables, and I'm never more than a few feet from a jack.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Both of the above suggestions are good and should work out well for you. As to your programming track - if you have a Digitraxx system you can locate a Loconet plug in the staging area and then you can use a computer and JMRI to do all of your programming tasks easily. You won't need your command station in that area. However, you would need to extend your programming leads from the command station to the staging/programming area. You can go about 20 feet from the command station with 18G wire and program satisfactorily. This would require you to locate your command station a little closer to the right than Elmer has suggested.
Joe
I would divide up the layout into sub-power districts by using circuit breakers. I would set up four sections. The mainline, the engine facilities and the main yard, the staging area, and any industrial switching tracks.
I would put the electronics area above and to the left of the word 'Great' on your plan. Somewhere in the corner area near the front of the layout. That is about the middle of the layout.
I would put the throttle plugs wherever there will be any switching activity, and then one in between those locations if there is more than 8 feet between them.
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.
Your command station probably should go on the area of the layout with the turntable/ engine terminal are. Or where the programming track is. Loconet jacks should go where the yard next to the aisle is, another in the other aisle, one near the town and one near the staging yard. You can get by with one power district, but it would be better to split the layout into two districts in the area where you have the single main on the curve. If there was a derailment would only stop half of the layout
I'm building my first DCC layout, small- to medium-size, and will be running only two or three locos, either alone or with great-nephews. I may change to wireless operation, but starting out it seems easy enough to plug in two or three throttles and move around with them. I'm also inclined to make the whole layout a single power district, but can see how a second might be useful for troubleshooting.
Would you divide this layout into more than one district (the long side is shy of 25 feet)? Where would you put the command center and throttle plugs? Note that I have a small staging yard and program track in the adjacent room upper right.