Greetings to all,
I am building a wall mounted around the room layout. The room size is 20x20.
I have HO scale trains (LIfelike). I need to know if the layout, due to it’s size, will require more than the standard power pack that came with the train set.
I am also interested in a remote control set up that can run more than one train.
Any advice to this newcomer would be appreciated.
Thanks
ESharpe
You would probably have much better luck if you post your question on the “Model Railroader” forum, where HO people hang out. This forum is for toy trains, like Lionel and American Flyer, that is, mostly O and S gauge tinplate.
OK, Thanks
its nice to see someone else trying to do the same thing that i"m doing
sorry i don"t have the answer for you.but maybe we can help each other out , i"m allso just starting out and could really use some good advise
I’m going to be doing a narrow around the wall shelf layout that will be double decked. I am going to completely complete the top level first so that I can start running trains. I’d be interested in sharing so ideas and techniques with anyone considering this idea.
The purpose of the narrow shelf will be:
Utilize the rest of the basement for pool table, bar etc
Easy to wire
Less benchwork
Easy to reach trains (uncouple/couple, fix derailments, manual switches etc)
See trains up close and personal
The shelf will be 1 to 2 feet wide at maximum.
The turnaround loops at either end will be hinged to fold down when not in use.
To answer your original question;
The size of the power source is not really a function of layout size, but of the number and size of electrical loads drawing from that source. You would need to do a load count. Count up the number of accesories and locomotives that you will have running at the same time. Find the total wattage. Compare this number to the wattage of the source. If wattage of load>wattage of source then the soucre is too small.
overall
There is one factor that needs to be added and that is line loss. The longer the track,
the more places for resistance to creep in. All the connnectors offer some resistance.
One way to mitigate this is to run multiple feed lines from the power supply to various
points on the track. This reduces the number of resistance points between the
engine (load) and the power supply. This is more important in the small guages
were the primary conductor (the track) is relatively small.
OK guys, which is it? Solid 14 guage bus wire or stranded 14 guage bus wire???
I was quite successful in soldering 22 guage solid feeder wires to the power loc track. I ran the wire between the track joints, soldering it to the bottom of both rails, then snipping the piece between the rails out. Of course that permantaly soldered 2 pieces of track together also, but should be a reliable connection.
I am pondering on connecting the feeder wires to the bus wire with small alligator clips due to the fact any soldering would have to done overhead on the shelf layout. Any comments on that?
Thanks again for your help
sharpe
Well, I guess my last post somehow ended up here on the wrong forum.
Sorry about that. I will try again. These forums are quite tricky to navigate.
Thanks any way
sharpe