06-27-2010, 07:14 PM
doctorwayne Wrote:Just to provide a counterpoint to Gary's "Excellent Layout Wiring Adventure", here's my power connection to the layout:
While there's a little more wiring to allow me to select which type of throttle I wish to use, this is the connection to the track. And everybody keeps saying how DCC simplifies wiring?
Wayne (keeping it simple for "Stupid")
When I was building the layout in my other house I had 28 remote switches that were operated from the control panel. Some of the wiring runs were over 40 feet so I took a huge spool of 18 ga wire to my back yard and made a wiring harness using a tagging system that the electrician that wired our power plant gave me.
There were 84 wires to the switches (3 ea) and I included extra wires for future lighting and new switches. Not knowing that you can't run trains on 18 Ga wire, I also ran 2 wires to each of 20 blocks. (every joint is soldered except insulated ones).I wrapped this as a wiring harness that you would find in a car. Everything fit.
I used a high voltage capacitor discharge system to throw the machines, and soldered all the terminals to the wiring instead of crimping them. It still functions today, and I've never had a problem, which is really good because I wouldn't have the foggiest idea where to look, and the trains run fine, as many as 12 locomotives at a time on a double 3 amp old style MRC power pac. Hence the saying....I'd rather be lucky than good.
I have hooked my PA DCC to the layout, and it too works fine with no Mods.
Charlie