Richard, thanks for this feedback. I started a new thread on my topic that should hit just before this one.. The new post offers some details I didn't share before. I'm getting a much better idea about how the feeder wires would come off a bus wire. Haven't yet been able to see how the wiring would look from the command station to the track and somehow split to also go to the bus lines. This feed from the command station has a miniplug into the command station and a flat connector on the other end where it's attached to the terminal track. I guess this is the 'plug and play' that's touted! I think I'll try to buy several of these Bachman miniplugged power wires with flat plug on the track end. It's sheathed with, I feel sure, two wires inside the sheathing. Going to 'ponder' a bit more and eventually end up at Radio Shack with a buy list. I can sorta chill on the feeder wire topic and continue running the trains and building structures. I have no trouble in finding hobby interests that involve spending money! This has been so for decades! lol Thanks again for the feedback!!
Mike
Mike,
I expect your terminal tracks come with at least a foot or so of wire. I am not familiar with your brand, but I hope that the wires are color coded. After the terminal tracks are all in place, drill a hole through the layout and pass the wire through so that it hangs under the layout. 16g or 18g wire should be large enough for your bus on the small layout with only two or three locos. If you are uncomfortable soldering you could use wire nuts to secure the wires together. Though they are not as reliable as soldering, they should get you operating and if they are well secured, should give you no problems. My layout has been wired over 10 years and I have had no problems with the wire nuts. Try to get wire the same colors as the ones from your terminal tracks. If you can't, be sure to attach all terminal wires of the same color to the same bus wires.
Good luck,
Richard
123mike Richard, thanks for this feedback. I am moving toward using additional Bachman terminal tracks (EZ Track) for the feeders. I have one exra one in place now. Still pondering how to keep that very small wire from the command station to the track and connect it to a 'bus wire' that I've been reading about. I bought the Mike Posgrove (sp?) book on wiring DCC layouts....it's for beginners; yet I hesitate to split that one track wire I have for fear of messing up and not being able to run the trains. I think I should buy extra Bachman miniplug wires (with a flat connector to the single terminal track); so I can play with this. Never have soldered....and never before had heard of a suitcase connector (that doesn't require soldering.....I think)!! Anyway, I know these are the questions of a beginner at the hobby and I'm having fun learning!! Thanks, again! Mike ps: The two locos that came with the Bachman DCC starter set have headlights; but no other features.....(CVs...). I have interest in buying a F-Series A and B unit with the Southern Railway green and white livery.....with Tsumani sound... I saw one that's made by (Intermountain). I don't want to do this until after I get the wiring issue worked out....but it's wish list material. I live outside Winston-Salem, NC near the site of the former Southern Railway's major repair facility at Spencer, NC. The site is now the NC Transportation Museum complete with an operational roundhouse and numerous restored steam and diesel locos.
Richard, thanks for this feedback. I am moving toward using additional Bachman terminal tracks (EZ Track) for the feeders. I have one exra one in place now. Still pondering how to keep that very small wire from the command station to the track and connect it to a 'bus wire' that I've been reading about. I bought the Mike Posgrove (sp?) book on wiring DCC layouts....it's for beginners; yet I hesitate to split that one track wire I have for fear of messing up and not being able to run the trains. I think I should buy extra Bachman miniplug wires (with a flat connector to the single terminal track); so I can play with this. Never have soldered....and never before had heard of a suitcase connector (that doesn't require soldering.....I think)!! Anyway, I know these are the questions of a beginner at the hobby and I'm having fun learning!! Thanks, again!
ps: The two locos that came with the Bachman DCC starter set have headlights; but no other features.....(CVs...). I have interest in buying a F-Series A and B unit with the Southern Railway green and white livery.....with Tsumani sound... I saw one that's made by (Intermountain). I don't want to do this until after I get the wiring issue worked out....but it's wish list material. I live outside Winston-Salem, NC near the site of the former Southern Railway's major repair facility at Spencer, NC. The site is now the NC Transportation Museum complete with an operational roundhouse and numerous restored steam and diesel locos.
It's not the decoders that don't have CVs, it is your EZCommand that cannot program them. EZCommand is a very primitive system. It is fine for what you have now, but it cannot be upgraded as your railroad expands. If you want to run multiple trains on a larger layout, you don't need a booster, you need a more capable DCC system.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Thanks to Randy and all others who responded to my questions about feeder wires and a booster for a Bachman DCC layout. I have a much better understanding of boosters and feederwires now. I'm putting the booster topic on the back burner and trying to figure out a way to add feeder wires to the layout. Thanks again!
Thanks for this feedback, Rich. My apologies for the delay in replying back. I think I will hold off on the booster for now. I do continue to believe that adding track feeder wires would be a good thing and want to do this. My set-up is the Bachman EZ Commander. A miniplug is plugged in to the commander....with the other end into the single terminal track. The end into this terminal track uses some kind of flat connector. I know that the miniplug 'wire' must really be 'two wires' inside that sheathing. I bought Mike Posgrove's book on DCC wiring. It's for beginners; yet I'm lost with some of it.... Geez! Trying to figure out how that little miniplug wire can be split and attached to a (bus?) wire that's super big(12 or 14 gauge) compared to the miniplug wire that's super small..
I morphed my hobby interest and activity over to structure building letting the wiring issue chill for awhile. I just finished the Walther's Cornerstone Glacier Gravel Company and feel prould of this. Running the trains every day too just about.......want to get the track wiring issue worked out before I get into scenery things beyond structures that can just rest upon the tabletop for now..
Thanks again for your reply!
I have the Bachmann Dynamis System (very close to yours) and I usually run 2 engines or trains at a time because of space (I have a 4x8 layout too). You don't need the booster and you probably don't need another plug, I use one and it works fine. Have fun modeling.
My Layout Photos- http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/ajwarshal/library/
Thank Rich got it.
Joe Staten Island West
Sent you a PM about the Tam Valley booster that is discussed in a different froum.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I too have E Z command but find that 2 locos is all I can operate as a human being bit T have had as many as 5 (2 with sound) "idling" on my layout usually with one operating. Still I am going to look at that Tam Valley booster.
Adding a 5 amp booster would INCREASE the need for more feeders - otherwise, the resistence of the wire could mean that in the event of a short, something less than 5 amps was flowing and the circuit breaker would never trip. But 4 amps at 15 volts is 60 watts - and 60 watts is plenty hot enough to melt things. Just feel the heat coming off a 60 watt light bulb.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Do NOT waste your money on purchasing a Bachmann 5A booster. For the price you pay for one ($200+) you can buy yourself a MUCH better and more powerful DCC starter system (e.g. NCE Power Cab or Digitrax Xtra) and still have money left over. Adding additional feeders to the track is the most cost-effect way to have your locomotives run more cinsistently.
FWIW, I ran as many as three locomotives with my E-Z Command when I first started out. However, running more than two locomotives simultaneously was more than enough to keep my mind occupied.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Welcome to the forums.
I too have heard that the turnouts can be a problem. If you aren't having problems, count yourself lucky and enjoy running your trains. Just be aware that problems could crop up, but that is the same with anything.
You can purchase more track with the connections built in, just like the one that came with the set. That would be the easiest way to add feeders. You could try solderiing feeders, but I haven't seen any talk here about doing it to the track with built in roadbed.
As for the power, on a small layout you shouldn't need it, unless you are going to run consists with several locos in each one. As mentioned above, it is the number of locos run, not the size of the layout.
Have fun,
Running feeders is a lot cheaper than buying a booster and even with the booster, you should still have more feeders. Feeders will not force more power to the other end. The locos will only take the power they require. Now if you run more than two locos, that could be an issue.
Boosters are for the locos, not the track.
You can get a 5 amp booster for less than what Bachmann wants if you insist on getting a booster.
Tam Valley sells a 5 amp booster for $42.00 the last time I looked. Seems to be ok from what I read on another forum.
Is your layout really big enough to run more than two locomotives at the same time and not crash?
Could you possibly keep track of 3 or more all running at the same time?
If the answer to these questions is "NO," you don't need a booster.
Hi to all. I have a Bachman EZ Commander DCC set up. I did the layout that's recommended with the track expansion pack. Essentially, it covers a 4x8 with a passing siding and a spur There are four turn-outs. Two for the passing siding and two for the spur. The turn out switches are digitally controlled. I am fairly new to model railroading and have really enjoyed this set up that now rests on a table I built which is heavy enough to hold a Toyota....lol. I know that the EZ Commander is considered sort of entry level DCC as is the all in one EZ track. Some seem to have had many problems with the turnouts. I've had no problems and have run the two DCC locomotives every day since early December. I have two questions that I'd appreciate someone answering: (1)Bachman sells a 5amp booster. Will this product let me run more than two DCC locomotives? Two run fine with the basic set up. (2)Should I have feeder wires in place with this small layout? Wondering if the booster lessens the need for feeder wires? I'm trying to figure out how that would be done. The EZ track is wired to the EZ commander with a mono mini plug (at the EZ Commander) and a flat connector (at the track)....no other connections. The two locomotives have fairly constant speeds; with maybe minor slow down at one end of the layout. I know these are likely beginner questions; but if someone might advise me on these issues, I'd be most appreciative!! Thanks!! 123mike