Hi
I’m building a new layout and starting afresh with DCC.
I have a two level layout. Both levels are 14 feet x 9 feet. I have no room for a spiral so I’m climbing around the outer edge at 0.77 % making a circiuit 5 times to get from the lower level to the upper level.
Can I run my feeders to each 3 foot length of track as it climbs off the lower level 14 AWG DCC bus cables? OR…
Or should I run the 14 AWG bus cables up and around the track as it climbs and feed off every 3 feet accordingly?
Any thoughts? I hope I have explained the layout enough!!
(I have NCE ProCab, by the way)
I would much appreciate your advice.
Thanks in advance.
Barry
[8D]
Once around should be fine. Making extra loops with the 14g just lengthens it’s run, increasing the possibility of voltage drop.
I would suggest no smaller than 20g drops, though, especially from the top level (as they’ll be the longest).
You won’t need feeders every 3 feet if you solder two lengths of flex together, making a 6-foot piece).
But you might also consider whether you want some separate power districts (each with their own circuit breakers, like those from Tony’s). Sounds like your layout may be big enough.
There are two main reasons: If you run several engines at a time, separate power districts will not overload. And it makes it much easier to find a short if you don’t have to search every inch of track!
If you have a yard and/or engine service area, they would be good candidates, too. And of course any reverse loops.
Depends on how many power blocks you are going to put into the “loops”. But if only one, I think I would just put one loop of bus and feed all 5 layers vertically from it.
Thanks Pondini and Texas Zepher.
Thanks for your help and advice.
Barry