04-22-2011, 08:38 PM
Al:
If you use big enough wire, current loss isn't a problem.
My layout is about 16 feet square, around the walls, so I have track that is 50 feet (as the train runs) from a throttle.
I have 4 throttles and 3 block control panels - one on a side and 2 in the opposite corners. The big one controls a station that is about 16' long plus another 16' along the next wall.
My throttles are connected to the control panels with lamp cord -- the flexible stuff about 14 or 16 gauge from the hardware store.* There are 4 sets of it running around most of the layout. When I was building, I found that the store had 4 distinct colours/styles of this wire.
When I built the control panel I had some decent wire for connections, but I also had surplus telephone cable that I used to the track. I didn't do that on the later sections.
* this wire is generally handy to buy and reasonably priced. Just don't confuse it with the high voltage circuits.
If you use big enough wire, current loss isn't a problem.
My layout is about 16 feet square, around the walls, so I have track that is 50 feet (as the train runs) from a throttle.
I have 4 throttles and 3 block control panels - one on a side and 2 in the opposite corners. The big one controls a station that is about 16' long plus another 16' along the next wall.
My throttles are connected to the control panels with lamp cord -- the flexible stuff about 14 or 16 gauge from the hardware store.* There are 4 sets of it running around most of the layout. When I was building, I found that the store had 4 distinct colours/styles of this wire.
When I built the control panel I had some decent wire for connections, but I also had surplus telephone cable that I used to the track. I didn't do that on the later sections.
* this wire is generally handy to buy and reasonably priced. Just don't confuse it with the high voltage circuits.
David
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.