OK, I feel like expanding my railroa empire. Currently have a 4X3 + 4X2 dog-leg yard in N. I feel like putting another say 4X3 in the lounge and then another bigger one near it at the corner of 1:500 I am demolishing. I am also planning to link all these sections together by ways of shelvings and may be removable viaducts etc. I really like the idea of a long modern train go somewhere and then not returning for a while since I am getting a bit bored with my current small one.
Do you think my Prodigy Advanced can handle all these? Or something like Digitrax’s localnet is more suited? Anyone used NCE’s? It’s not a huge apartment but I would say it would about at least 25 feet of track to the lounge section and then another 40 feet or so back to the existing layout.
I think that it should be able to handle it just fine. The real issue isn’t distance, but how many additional locomotives would be added into the system.
my club has a 26’ x 36’ ho layout and an 8’ x 16’ n scale layout that are both run with one digitrax empire builder. both layouts are in the same room and separated by 10’. both operate very well. you should not have any problems as long as you observe correct rail polarity on all of your sections. the manual for your system should tell you what is the maximum length of the power buss and loconet for best operation.
BACK INTO N-SCALE AFTER 10 YEARS OF R/C PLANES. THIS TIME GOING WITH DCC. PURCHASED A NCE POWER SYSTEM THAT WILL HANDLE TWO LOCO’S. ABOUT 3 AMPS. THE DISTANCE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM AND IF IT IS ADD A BOOSTER.[angel]
The PA will do fine. If you need to control trains from the other locations, just add a plug in panel for the throttle(s). The PA will handle three throttles without requiring additional power for the throttles. MRC makes a powered plug in for use where needed.
Thanks for all the help guys, I shall look into the my PA system in more detail on how to add plug-in’s at each location.
I actually have one of those Tony’s Trains RRAmpmeter and I was surprised how little ampage the track and multiple loco’s draw! a consist of 4 locos and another lashup of 2 locos in the inner loop drawed a mere .35amp. The only I wasn’t sure is the distance factor because I don’t how much voltage drop will occur for that kind of distance. Does anyne know how much voltage drop is acceptable so you don’t loose ‘control’ of the loco’s?
The next task would be getting rid of all the junks at each location so I start plan the layout! And of course getting the usual ‘building approval’ from the ‘female boss’! LOL
the voltage drop will depend on the size of the wire you use for the power buss. i have a 70’ mainline run and am using 14 gauge stranded wire for the buss with 20 gauge stranded for the rail feeders. i have run just to test 12 of my locos that were mu’ed together and they ran good. some of them were without decoders. some here advocate a smaller wire like a 16 or 18 gauge for the buss which will be ok. it’s your choice. remember the rail is carrying the current too. any voltage drop in the power buss will be made up by the current flowing in the rails as long as there are no insulated joints and you solder the others.