I've been browsing through all the old threads, trying to find answers about this stuff. I'm building a basic 4x8 layout right now (to be extended in the future) and I plan on having probably no more than 5 blocks. I've found that 22 guage wire is probably the best way to go, given my layout size, and to use something like 14 guage for the bus.
My questions are this: am i going to need any boosters? i really don't know what they are... but i'm figuring on just buying the Tech 4 260 which is the 20amp version vs the 220 wich i think its only 16 amps. I'll probably end up having 6-7 feeder sections depending on the number of blocks that I end up with.
Will I be fine with just running 14 guage wire from the Tech 4, and using suitcase clips to connect the 22 guage feeder wire to the main bus? Or am I going to need more power? man... there is so much crap you need to know with building a layout!!!
Greg,
The Tech 4-260 is more than adequate for your layout. I have one and it will run more than five locos at one time. The newer loco's draw much less than 1 amp so you will be fine.
The 14 gauge wire is fine for the power bus. A lot of people use the suitcase connectors with no problem but I perfer to solder the feeders to the bus.
Bill
Hi Deadheadgreg,
It depends on your load. Compute the maximum amperage for each locomotive, figure how many locomotives will be in the same electrical block at the same time. That will give you the maximum amps needed for the block and you should size the wire accordingly for the load and length of wire. Post again if you cannot find guidelines for wire size based on load and length. I would think your 22AWG should handle a couple amps for a few inches in length. Your 14AWG would handle 5 amps for about 20 feet without a problem.
A 20 amp supply would be sufficient and probably needs to run through some type of current limiter (a booster (which could be part of a command station) or other power management circuit) can do this for you. You don't want to put so much current on the rails that a short caused by a derailed car will weld the wheels to the rail! :-)
I'm doing HO, I run 6 locos now, all in one electrical block, supply is 5 amp, I use 14AWG for my bus and 18AWG for track feeders (no longer than 12 inches), my bus run end to end is 30 feet with my booster/command station in the middle.
Tim.
so would i be ok with just the 220 then? I can't imagine ever having more than 3 engines in one block at a time... its only 4x8 and I only have a couple of engines to use (as of right now). I mean, i'm planning on putting a 2x4 or 2x8 expansion on it in the future, but thats of no concern right now.
do i have to worry if i want to use dpdt switches to control the blocks?
well I was thinking of having a buss so that I could have a main wire connected to the power supply from which i could branch the feeders off of.
what would you recommend doing?
Hi Deadhead,
It is what you prefer, for a 4'x8', you can have a bus with short feeders or a short bus with long feeders. If you have plans for expansion, then a bus with short feeders would help you expand.
For the distances involved, with the loads you mentioned, either would work fine, your choice.
My first 4'x8' had feeders coming back to the power supply, twisted into one hunk that barely fit under the screw. It was ugly, all the wires were 18AWG brown, but it worked! :-) Back then free wire beat color coding! I was also short some wire and got in trouble for cutting the power cord off a lamp. I didn't think anyone ever used that lamp, sigh...
Yeah, thats what I kind of thought would be the way to go, but it just seemed weird to have all the feeders coming straight to the power supply. Did you have any blocks at all?
I know i'm gonna have to do some extra wiring, but is this basically the way I need to go:
Power pack > Bus wires > Feeder Wires > DPDT > Feeders to Track (looks like a Grateful Dead 2nd set... heh) And then just having however many blocks I need.
I had a 4x6 with 5 blocks and 2 power packs. Ran all the feeder wires back to a plastic project box that had 5-3 position slider switches mounted in it. Middle position was common.(off) Up was pack A and down was pack B.
(doses)
Based on the power supply, I'm assuming you are talking about a DC layout, right? How many throttles will you have - one for each loco active at the same time, yes? If you have 5 blocks, each with a throttle and one loco which takes less than an amp, you have plenty of power. It seems to me a pair of feeders to each block, wired directly to the block switches, would be good.
Now, if we're talking DCC, that's different. If so you don't need any blocks. You could run the entire layout off one pair of feeders, but extra feeders for reliability and short circuit protection might be a good idea. It again comes down to how many throttles and how many locos, but I'm thinking even a small starter system (NCE PowerCab, etc.) would be adequate for a few locos running at once.
Jim
yeah it will be DC. I'm going to have one power pack for the mainline, and then a 2nd for the branch to the coal mine and the little yard sections.
lol loathar.... 2 for 5?
(heady nuggets)