01-27-2010, 11:45 AM
I've been working on various items to get the layout up to speed construction wise. Just little things like installing feeders where I want/need to put them. Working on some other areas underneath the layout wiring wise, trying to button things up and make it neat and tidy.
I took stock of what I have left to get done too, and right now I figure I've got about 6 feet of track left to spike down. Which is not a lot, considering the amount I've work I've done once I got motoring. This figure though does not including the pier construction which I am planning as a seperate build. So to speak.
My layout also grew up a bit yesterday as I bit the bullet before the New Year and decided to get an NCE Powerhouse Pro Control Box w/ Booster & a Magna Force power supply from Tony's. This little dodad arrived in the mail yesterday. I wired it up in the evening, which now makes my Power Cab a Pro Cab. The difference is like night and day. With the Power Cab supplying the power to the layout, it took about 5 - 6 seconds for the cab to boot up and then provide power to the layout plus, the Torts were getting sluggish. Not a huge deal, seriously. However with the PH the boot up is nearly instant. I flick the switch on the power supply and it all comes to life! I was not worried about the 5 amps of power the PH supplies as I used 16 gauge stranded wire which is the mininum size recommended according to the manual. My Torts are running like tops once again and seem a bit snapper when accessed from the Cab. I have 18 Torts hooked up, with an expected total of 21 by the time the layout trackwork is done. Not to mention I have decoder wise; two Switch it's, two Switch 8's & four HFJ's all tied into the DCC buss. I also have a few other odd accessories that will also run off the buss as well by the time I'm done with it all. The PH will also allow me to run a couple more cabs should the need arise.
This weekend weather permitting, I might try and build some shelving I've had planned for the benchwork beneath the layout in a couple of areas. Plus a new work station area to move my bench top sander and a small 8" drill press I bought with some x-mas mullah.
I took stock of what I have left to get done too, and right now I figure I've got about 6 feet of track left to spike down. Which is not a lot, considering the amount I've work I've done once I got motoring. This figure though does not including the pier construction which I am planning as a seperate build. So to speak.
My layout also grew up a bit yesterday as I bit the bullet before the New Year and decided to get an NCE Powerhouse Pro Control Box w/ Booster & a Magna Force power supply from Tony's. This little dodad arrived in the mail yesterday. I wired it up in the evening, which now makes my Power Cab a Pro Cab. The difference is like night and day. With the Power Cab supplying the power to the layout, it took about 5 - 6 seconds for the cab to boot up and then provide power to the layout plus, the Torts were getting sluggish. Not a huge deal, seriously. However with the PH the boot up is nearly instant. I flick the switch on the power supply and it all comes to life! I was not worried about the 5 amps of power the PH supplies as I used 16 gauge stranded wire which is the mininum size recommended according to the manual. My Torts are running like tops once again and seem a bit snapper when accessed from the Cab. I have 18 Torts hooked up, with an expected total of 21 by the time the layout trackwork is done. Not to mention I have decoder wise; two Switch it's, two Switch 8's & four HFJ's all tied into the DCC buss. I also have a few other odd accessories that will also run off the buss as well by the time I'm done with it all. The PH will also allow me to run a couple more cabs should the need arise.
This weekend weather permitting, I might try and build some shelving I've had planned for the benchwork beneath the layout in a couple of areas. Plus a new work station area to move my bench top sander and a small 8" drill press I bought with some x-mas mullah.