WilScarletMacawWhile my layout has been running with them connected for over 10 years, this year I have some type of electrical problem that resets my NCE Power Cab as I try to accelerate the engine. So even with my short line, I may add snubbers. Can't hurt. I'm trying to avoid ripping up my almost complete layout and starting over.
Check out this website by the highly respected Mark Gurries. He presents a comprehensive discussion of snubbers and the signs of when you may need snubbers on the track bus.
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/dcc-general-best-practices/wiring-planing/snubbers-rc-filter
Meanwhile, you have thrown a curve ball into this discussion with the comment that you have some type of electrical problem that resets your NCE Power Cab as you try to accelerate the engine. Whether or not snubbers can resolve this problem is beyond my pay grade. It might be worthwhile to start a new thread on that issue.
One final thought. If you are concerned about a continuous bus wire around the layout, just cut it so that you have two shorter non-continuous bus wires.
Rich
Alton Junction
Lastspikemike Cutting just the bus wire loop wouldn't break the electrical loop unless a point in the layout were to be double gapped also, at the same spot electrically speaking. The bus is just a parallel circuit to the circuit formed by the rails.
Cutting just the bus wire loop wouldn't break the electrical loop unless a point in the layout were to be double gapped also, at the same spot electrically speaking. The bus is just a parallel circuit to the circuit formed by the rails.
WilScarletMacaw Is there any advantage to connecting the ends of the bus lines for a continous run circle on a DCC layout, or should the terminal points just be left alone?
Is there any advantage to connecting the ends of the bus lines for a continous run circle on a DCC layout, or should the terminal points just be left alone?
But, as I and others have mentioned previously, a continuous loop of bus wire is no more harmful than a continuous loop of track. In other words, there is no adverse effect. I had a continuous loop of bus wires for 13 years without adverse effect on my old layout.
That said, what is a continuous loop of bus wire? A bus wire, or more appropriately a pair of bus wires on a DCC layout, is typically a pair of heavy gauge (e.g., 14 gauge copper wire) wires connected to the DCC booster. If that pair of wires forms an unbroken continuous loop around the layout, it has to end somewhere.
Most often, it cannot return directly to the booster because the ports on the booster won't be large enough. So, a continuous loop of bus wire must tie back into the wire that is connected to the bus. If that is a concern, then cut the bus wires halfway around the loop and wind up with two equal, but shorter lengths of bus wire. That is often recommended on larger layouts to avoid, or at least minimize, voltage drop.
You're confused. I referred to a "continuous loop of track", not the OP.
And no one referred to "the other side".
rich
if you break the bus, couldn't it still be electrically connected thru the track
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
gregc rich if you break the bus, couldn't it still be electrically connected thru the track
richhotrain Good points. I'll start another thread on that. WilScarletMacaw While my layout has been running with them connected for over 10 years, this year I have some type of electrical problem that resets my NCE Power Cab as I try to accelerate the engine. So even with my short line, I may add snubbers. Can't hurt. I'm trying to avoid ripping up my almost complete layout and starting over. Well, agreed, it can't hurt to add snubbers, but it wouldn't hurt to have a reason to do so. Check out this website by the highly respected Mark Gurries. He presents a comprehensive discussion of snubbers and the signs of when you may need snubbers on the track bus. https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/dcc-general-best-practices/wiring-planing/snubbers-rc-filter Meanwhile, you have thrown a curve ball into this discussion with the comment that you have some type of electrical problem that resets your NCE Power Cab as you try to accelerate the engine. Whether or not snubbers can resolve this problem is beyond my pay grade. It might be worthwhile to start a new thread on that issue. One final thought. If you are concerned about a continuous bus wire around the layout, just cut it so that you have two shorter non-continuous bus wires. Rich
Good points. I'll start another thread on that.
WilScarletMacaw While my layout has been running with them connected for over 10 years, this year I have some type of electrical problem that resets my NCE Power Cab as I try to accelerate the engine. So even with my short line, I may add snubbers. Can't hurt. I'm trying to avoid ripping up my almost complete layout and starting over.
Well, agreed, it can't hurt to add snubbers, but it wouldn't hurt to have a reason to do so.
WilScarletMacawrichhotrain Good points. I'll start another thread on that.
jjdamnit It is possible to run multiple locomotives, which may exceed the limitations of the power booster, on a small pike which could cause power fluctuations.
It is possible to run multiple locomotives, which may exceed the limitations of the power booster, on a small pike which could cause power fluctuations.
It probably makes more sense to a DCC operator. But, you seem sincerely interested, so let me take another shot at this.
When a DCC operator is ready to install bus wire, if he decides upon a continuous loop, he will take a pair of bus wires and insert them into the two ports on his DCC booster.
On an HO scale layout, the wire will often be 14 gauge copper wire. He will strip about 1/2 inch of plastic insulation off the end of each bus wire and insert it into the booster port. Usually, only one wire will fit into the port.
So, if the DCC operator decides upon a continuous loop of bus wires, he will likely trace the bus wires under the layout directly below the track on top of the layout. When he completes the loop by arriving back at the booster, it can either terminate there or connect into the two wires coming out of the booster port by forming 3-wire pigtails held together in plastic wire connectors. It is 3-wire because each wire coming out of the booster must be cut in order to join the continuous loop of bus wire. Thus, the entire continuous loop of bus wires is powered.
Now, as I suggested to the OP, if that concerns him, then cut the bus wires midway around the layout, so he will now have two powered sets of bus wires. On a small layout, there may be no real benefit. But on a larger layout, it will minimize voltage drop.
richhotrainNow, as I suggested to the OP, if that concerns him, then cut the bus wire midway around the layout, so he will now have two powered sets of bus wires.
it's not clear that you fully recognize that there are actually two parrallel loops with feeders interconnecting them, one composed of the bus wires and the 2nd the track itself.
yes the track may not be fully connected because of faulty rail joiners, but you could probably cut the bus wire in more that 1 place and the layout would probably still work because the track itself bridges the cut in the bus wires.
would putting "snubbers" at each end of the wire bus make sense
that's all Mike was pointing out
as an aside, we were puzzled yesterday why a loco was still powered when the lamp used as a power limited was removed. we were worried that somethign was miswired. is just so happened what the metal wheel of a car was bridging the gap isolating the two power districts.
gregc richhotrain Now, as I suggested to the OP, if that concerns him, then cut the bus wire midway around the layout, so he will now have two powered sets of bus wires. it's not clear that you fully recognize that there are actually two parrallel loops with feeders interconnecting them, one composed of the bus wires and the 2nd the track itself.
richhotrain Now, as I suggested to the OP, if that concerns him, then cut the bus wire midway around the layout, so he will now have two powered sets of bus wires.
I don't recognize that "there are actually two parallel loops with feeders interconnecting them"???
What has happened to this forum?
I need to stop answering questions and trying to help people and leave it to the self-appointed "experts".