I’m to the track laying stage on my N scale layout, which means I have to start thinking about wiring. I will be using DCC and I am roughly following an MR project layout that also used DCC (January and February 2000 issues). On my last HO scale layout, I ran 2 bus wires that followed the trackplan all the way around the layout. Even though this is the recommended way of wiring for DCC, I thought it was very difficult to do and not worth the trouble for such a small layout. For the MR project layout, the wiring was done something like this.
(click picture for bigger view)
To me, this looks a whole lot easier and I would like to wire my new layout this way. It isn’t very large, only 5x7 in an L shape, so I think it will work. I will use 14-gauge wire to all the terminal blocks and 22 or 20 gauge wire for track feeders. All track feeders will be 3 feet long or shorter. I will be running 2-3 locos at the same time without sound.
My questions are…
1.) Is this a good way of wiring a small N scale layout for DCC (NCE powercab)?
2.) Is there a reason not to wire a layout this way?
The key is the feeder length, and you should be OK with what you have. I’ve got a 5x12 HO layout, and I use #18 wire for my bus. I did run it all the way around under the main loop, and I keep my feeders to under 2 feet. It runs fine, with multiple sound engines, and I have a number of feeders still hanging loose that I never got around to connecting.
Your method will work just fine. You should have no problems, assumign you have plenty of feeders - you should not at any point rely on the rail joiners to carry the power from section to section.
Don’t be scared off by some web sites which go way overboard at times in describing what you need. The key to sizing the bus wires is the current being drawn and the length. N scale is generally much lower current draw than HO, plus your distances are not large. #14 wire will be fine, and making a tree with a single bus line back to the booster will be just fine.
I will solder most of the connections and feeders will be spaced 2-3 feet apart. I thought about using seperate districs with curcuit breakers but for such a small layout it doesn’t seem very practical.
You can create separate districts and still wire them together to start with. They will make sense if you ever have enough locomotives to exceed the output of your booster. Sound locomotives add up quickly. Also if you ever plan to add signalling, the creation of blocks up front will make it much easier to add later, even on a small layout.
You can create separate districts and still wire them together to start with. They will make sense if you ever have enough locomotives to exceed the output of your booster. Sound locomotives add up quickly. Also if you ever plan to add signalling, the creation of blocks up front will make it much easier to add later, even on a small layout.
