Hey there, I have been upgrading my switches on my N scale layout to Peco streamline ones with the electrofrog. The layout is a small 2-foot by 7-foot loop with a small yard and 2 spurs. After installing the switches, my conrtoller (A MRC Tech II) wasm't giving out enoughh power for the track and only a tiny bit was going to the locomotive when the controller is at full throttle. I only have 2 power feeds. One on the main and one on the larger spur. I currently am running DC only and Im thinking that I need to add another power feed on the oppostie side of the mainline form where the power is currently being fed. Im also wanting to get DCC soon and I think I'm going to go with a DCS 52 for simplicity sake. Should I re-wire anything or should I just add another feed and solder some track? Tellme what you think.
Missing parts aren't a problem, they are an excuse to use fancy brass details!
-Edwin
Is it mostly sectional track or flex track? The turnouts are power routing and rely on the little contacts at the point rails. Adding feeders on both sides of the points may do the trick. Also soldering the rail joiners too. Any loose joiner will cause resistance and loss of power.
Pete.
Most of the track is sectional. I'll defintally add feeders there. Thanks for the help!
It doesn't hurt to add more feeders. You probably need more than you think. I find that every turnout should be surrounded by feeders for the best performance.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley It doesn't hurt to add more feeders. You probably need more than you think. I find that every turnout should be surrounded by feeders for the best performance.
Rich
Alton Junction
Well, last night I finished all the work on feeders. Because my layout is a loop, I had to insulate the rails going out of the frogs on the mainline switches. For the yard, I only put 1 feeder because the yard is pretty small (3 switches). I will put a set of feeders on the track leading to the turntable. I ended up with 7 feeders for the switches and power to the mainline. I tested everything and it is working great! Thanks to all for the advice!
Experience has shown me that clusters of turnouts, like yards, require more feeders, not fewer.
I always think of "A Thosand Clowns," an old movie with Jason Robards Jr. He is always shopping at yard sales and picking up brass or wooden eagles. "You can never have too many eagles" he tells his young son. The same goes for feeders. It's easier to put in more now, while the wires and clippers and soldering iron are out.
I go down to the workroom and make up batches of feeders soldered to the undersides of rail joiners, half black and half red so they stay color coded. That way I can install feeders as I lay track.