Large Scale Central

Internet sources for info on power and wiring?

Electronics
#1

Any good sources of information on power and wiring for garden trains? I would like to come up with a master plan for dealing with track power, accessories, lights, etc. Unfortunately I have found only limited information in my book collection or online. Most of the advanced information I have is for indoor layouts. Any recommendations for internet sites or printed material would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul

#2

check out this site, some really interesting information.

     http://www.davebodnar.com/

check under the ‘articles’ section

     http://www.trainelectronics.com/articles.htm

I think some of this will be really helpful if you can use a solering iron and understand a little about electronics.
regards
Dave

#3
Dave Whellum said:
check out this site, some really interesting information. 
     http://www.davebodnar.com/

check under the ‘articles’ section

     http://www.trainelectronics.com/articles.htm

I think some of this will be really helpful if you can use a solering iron and understand a little about electronics.
regards
Dave


Thanks, Dave - very interesting. I have never seen a capacitor even remotely close to the size this bloke was messing with at the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital layout.

#4

Paul -

I don’t have a source for you, but the theory of wiring a railroad is the same regardless of scale and location (indoors or out) with the exception of weatherproofing.

I use both track power with block control and battery power outdoors. My block switches are mounted in plastic outdoor outlet boxes. I use standard terminal ring connectors on rail clamps for track connection. I solder the ring terminals rather than crimp them so water can not degrade the connection.

That being said, with the exception of a ‘reverse loop’ circuit, I haven’t used any of the block switches in over a year.

#5

TrainControl.com has some nice devices. I have a friend building an indoor HO empire, and he has bought several items there so I have had a chance to try some out. My background and most of the books/documentation I have are for HO scale electronics. While the theories are the same, the combination of larger size, more power, and weather affect the actual setup. Perhaps I need a refresher course on Ohm’s Law. :wink:

Right now I’m setting up an oval with about 75 feet of track and two sidings. I have 14 gauge wire I would like to connect in 4 places. If I run two wires to a block, and then split out to the four locations, it would take about 30 feet of wire. I just have to figure out how much power I need to supply to the track.

Jon, I switched over to the terminal ring connectors on rail clamps, which works well. I crimped the connections, but I may go back and solder them.

#6

Paul,
I went looking for TrainControl.com, but “no joy,” as they say. Is there another, more up-to-date addy?

#7

Ooos… I mixed up some site names. I was referring to trainelectronics.com.

#8

Paul,

If you are using brass track you will need very few power hook-ups… The track is about the same as # 6 gauge wire… We had a modular layout inside that had about 200’ of track, feeders 100’ apart… The feeders were 14 gauge wire about 70’ long… We had no power problems, except @ switches, powered frogs… If you use track of a different material your results will be different…

#9

got some stuff scattered throughout my website. Try

http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips5/power_tips.html
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips6/prime_power_tips.html
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips3/connector_tips.html
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips5/dcc_tips.html
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips3/reversing_tips.html
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips7/battery_rc_tips.html