I am converting my layout from DC to DCC. In effect, my mainline is an enclosed circle. My buss wire runs under the track, but does not complete a circle.
Do I need to gap my rails to open the circle or can I keep it as is?
I will be installing and Digitrax Super Chief 5 amp.
Thanks
Chris
No, you do not need to gap the rails just because the layout forms a complete loop. Nothing bad will happen. A couple of layouts ago I had an 8x12 donute hole with a double mainline. The only gaps I had were in the corssovers and the lead to the yard so I could have each loop and the yard on their own circuit breaker outputs (and then never got around to installing the breaker, so all three were just jumpered together at the panel I made to mount said circuit breaker).
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
To add a little to Randy's answer: Although you do not have to gap your track bus or the track itself, if you run a LocoNet cable around your layout, do NOT loop your LocoNet back on itself.
Looping the bus and/or the track won't cause problems, but looping your LocoNet will.
Thank you for the replies. I thought I read somewhere that looping the bus and track would cause problems. I will keep the track as is and if I have problems I will gap the rails then.
I am new to DCC and I didn't want to mess up my new super chief deluxe. Took me a while to save up for it.
I will be sure not to loop the loconet.
Hello all,
You don't NEED to gap your track into blocks but for troubleshooting purposes it can help.
If, for example, you are having a problem with a dead-short. Having your pike in blocks can help you determine whether it's a piece of rolling stock, the track, a wiring fault or a controll component.
Moving the suspect rolling stock to another block will either confirm or eliminate that it is the suspect unit causing the short.
If you move the suspect unit to another block and it does not cause a problem you have eliminated a varriable and can move on to the next phase of trobleshooting.
Without having blocks it might be more difficult to determine if it's the unit, the track or other things I mentioned.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
jjdamnit,
Thank you for the advice. Currently my layout has a double track main and all crossovers have plastic rail joiners. I have two spur tracks that also have plastic rail joiners. The entrance to what will be my yard also has plastic rail joiners. My plans to start with is to have all of the isolated blocks connected to the same booster.
I started building separte blocks for different DC Cabs. Now that I was able to get the DDC system, I've scrapped the DC multi Cab idea.
Do I need something like a PM42 to split the boosters power or add another booster to benefit from the isolated blocks? My layout is not very big. I plan on running no more than two trains at once with a max of 3 engines per train. Usually it's either two steamers or one steamer on one train and 2 to 3 diesels on the other.
cscannon222My plan(s) (is) to start with is to have all of the isolated blocks connected to the same booster.
Hello Chris,
On my 4'x8' pike I do not have circuit breaker protection to each power district.
I have a single 5-AMP booster powering all the districts, or blocks, and a single throttle.
With this arrangement I have no problem powering a 4-unit coal drag on the mainline, a 3-unit coal shuttle on a 3% incline and two switchers all running simultaneously.
I've also included a Wye, with an auto reversing unit, and have had no power problems with simultaneous running of the main line and switching on the Wye.
There is also a programming track on the pike that is powered from the same booster via a separate output and isolated from the main track.
Even with this configuration I have setup a completely separate programming track on my bench with JMRI and a Digitrax PR3.
Depending on the size of your pike you MIGHT need a second booster, but with what you are describing a second booster could be an unnecessary expense that you could invest in circuit breaker protection.