Hi, I'm building an HO scale layout in my basement and I could use some advice on the wiring plan. The layout is 18.5 feet long, 8.5 feet wide at the wider end, with a double-track loop planned around a central backdrop divider. One side will have a steel mill with lots of associated switches, one end will have a pair of bridges over a river, and the other side will have a few industries and a passing track. I don't see myself running more than 5 engines at a time on this. However, I'm concerned about the length of the track power bus wires. I'd like to get a NCE 5 amp wireless DCC system (I assume this has a power source in it), and I'm wondering if this will be enough or will I need to get an additional booster? Any input will be appreciated, thanks. I'm learning a lot about all of this as I go.
enrique14150!
5 Amps with 5 Locomotives, depending on the locomotive, will work. With 5 SOUND eqiuiped locomotives, you are very close to the 5 amps. For that large of a layout, you might want to consider another booster, which will also allow you to have the option of adding another locomotive, or lighted passenger cars, without overloading the DCC system. Having 5 locomotives on a 5 amp system, as mentioned, will be extremely close with some loco's, adding any other power draw will put you into a possible overload situation.
Use a buss wire, to supply power to multiple feeders, of at least a 14 gauge, even 12 gauge wire, and power through feeders every rail. Feeders of 12" or shorter can be as small as 22 gauge wire, 18AWG would allow for slightly longer feeders if needed, but most will be 12" or less on most layouts. (I used 18 only because I found some solid core 18AWG in both red and black, cheap.)
And, speaking of red and black colors, color code your wiring, red one rail black the other. Maintain that color code consistently. Always.
Welcome to the forums, and to the hobby!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Ricky's summation will make sure there's no concern for an issue. I will add that the only time you're likely to find 5 amps insufficient for 5 trains is if each consists of several MU sound locos and/or have old school hi amp motors in them.
I run a layout about 3 times larger, with at least a dozen sound locos on the track live, plus a BUNCH of LED lighting on passenger trains, multiple MU non-sound locos (mostly Athearn Fs and SDs), etc. I do have things split between two 5amp NCE units, but have never run short of power. A single 5 amp unit should be plenty.
I do have a 12 gauge bus, but cover a lot more turf than yours will. You're probably good with 14 gauge unless you have potential for future expansion.
What you should also give thought to are circuit breakers. If you never plan on actually running more than one train at a time, i.e. it moving, you could get away without them if it will always be a one-operator situation. If more than that, you'd be wise to break the areas you described up so each is fed from the bus independently througha circuit breaker. This keep things moving everywhere else if you short in one place. Otherwise, everything shuts down if you run into a swicth set against you, trackwork issue, etc that can cause shorts.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I routinely run 4 sound locos, and sometimes 5-6 with my 2.5 amp system. My layout is 21X8 with two loops and use 14 g buss with no problems. I also have three circut breakers protecting three independent areas of the layout. 5 amp is more than enough for your needs and another 5 amp booster is overkill in my view.
Say what???
C'mon guys, the NCE 5 amp system can easily handle 5 locomotives, even 10.
Even sound locomotives only put out about 0.5 amps.
As far as the length of the bus wires, the 5 amp system can easily handle full length bus wires on a layout that long. Just use 14 gauge solid copper wire.
One booster will do, and, yes, a power supply is available with the 5 amp system.
Rich
Alton Junction
Believe that is what we are saying rich.
Hello Enrique.
Lots of good advice above. I will only add that for safety sake, a short circuit across the rails anywhere on your layout should trip the protection in your booster or circuit breaker. (Commonly called the quarter test, or loonie test in Canada, because a coin can be used to short the rails.)
After your track is installed and wired test every piece of track, on both sides of every turnout, spurs and sidings, every couple feet. If a short of the rails does not operate the protection you need to add more feeders.
Live long and prosper.Dwayne A
I believe one must buy a power supply separately. NCE sells its own P515 for a whopping $60, although the street price is less.
richhotrainSay what??? C'mon guys, the NCE 5 amp system can easily handle 5 locomotives, even 10. Even sound locomotives only put out about 0.5 amps.
Rich,
That's what I suspect and basically said. However, the first answer wasn't necessarily wrong. We don't know what kind of motive power the OP has in mind for those 5 trains. Maybe MU-ed rubberband drive Athearns x6 on each? Then, there could be an issue.
Realistically, with modern drivelines, allowancing 1 amp per train is probably overkill, but it's a good safe spot to be in if we don;t know what's planned in detail.
mlehman Realistically, with modern drivelines, allowancing 1 amp per train is probably overkill, but it's a good safe spot to be in if we don;t know what's planned in detail.
Yeah, I know I was playing it safe... But without knowing whether it's an old BB (BlueBox) unit with a hardwired sound decoder (pushing 1 amp easy) or a brand new fill-in-the-blank unit that takes only 1/3 amp tops, better to play it safe than to suggest something that won't work, IMHO.
I have the Zephyr Xtra myself, but have more than one unit per amp. So I know it can be done. But I also know exactly what my units are, and their current draw needs.
Depending on the units in question, you could easily be right close to 5 amps with 5 locomotives, or be under 2.5 amps, counting all 5, or anywhere in the middle of the two.
This is experience, not opinion.
The club I use to belong to has the NCE Power Pro 5 amp system which comes with it's own power supply.. They have run ten sound locos. Power required was a little over three amps, measured by a DCC amp meter.
The club has two rooms. Smaller room is about one third of the main room. Don't remember the room sizes though.
They ran #16 wire.
I would suggest either building your own DCC amp meter or get a Rampmeter if you ever wonder about power requirements.
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 hear what you're saying, but intil there's something to measure...
Here's a strategy to adopt. In most cases, a 5 amp will run a home layout. It takes a really big one or a nice sized club layout to demand more than 5 amps will provide until you have lots of locos.
Many layouts are also under construction for lengthy periods, so full power demand won't appear for some time, too.
Just buy the 5 amp command station to start. Install it at the midpoint of the power bus and feed it from there. If and when the need develops (maybe borrow or buy a meter to confirm the situation along the way), you cut the power bus in half, install a 5 amp booster next to the command station, and feed 1/2 the bus from each. Neat. Clean. Simple. Takes the worry away with minimal fuss and muss.
Like richg1998, I speak from experience. I have the NCE 5 amp wireless system, and my layout is a lot longer than the OP's 18.5 foot length. It can easily support 5 locomotives and plenty more than that. I use a RRampMeter to measure both voltage and amps, and the current draw is about 0.5 amps per sound locomotive. No need for a second booster.
Incidentally, NCE recommends the P515 power supply, and it can be purchased for under $50.
I am half way through building a 3 feet x 13 feet shelf layout with an intermodel continer port with several warehouses and container storage at one end and a soon to be rolling mill and electrical arc funace at the other end of the layout. I have 18 insulated frog Peco code100 switches joined to Atlas code 100 flex track with peco rail joiners, which makes for very tight connections in addition to soldering connections.
I selected code 100 track for trouble free switching and i like the high rail look for painting track rail brown, there is a single incoming lead track from one end of the layout eventually entering at a 50 degree angle into a reverse double ladder center switch yard with five spur tracks in each direction. The lead track continues through the center yard and out towards the back of the layout and eventually stops at the opposite end facia board.
There are multiple side tracks, sevearl run-around tracks, outside spur tracks, and a grade level powered track burried in proto type concrete servicing a container barge berth with an overhead ganty crane, I spent months designing the plan and figuring out where to the place Feeder wires and which DCC system to use, I chose an NCE Powercab 1.5 amp system, as I find myself only running one or two engines at a time during an operating session due to the constant switching and car staging going on outside and within the center the main yard. The insulated frog switches also help to provide power to the operating engines by automatically cutting power to the fleet engines not in use, elminating the ned for power toggle switches on your main board to selected blocks or particular tracks not in use.
I am very pleased with the NCE system thus far , and if I decide to add a 24 inch radius at some point for a loop track connection and also run addional engines at one time I can upgrade the Power CAB system to 5 amps.
As in real life Industrial railroads offer endless switching opportunities and also require constant maintenance involving clean tracks at all times, checking electrical connections and solder points, especially if you plan to run engines with high end sound decoders.
I highly recommend NCE as the company has excellent and available customer support when needed. Good luck with your new layout , Darryl
I'm modeling in N scale with Kato and Atlas locomotives with sound, how many can I plan on running with an NCE 550 power pro? Overall main line is about 300' with passing sideings and a really small yard.
Hey everyone, thanks for all the feedback. I have to read through and digest all of this.