Just thought I’d pass on something that may help someone some time. I’m moving my sectional layout into larger quarters and performing some drastic surgery on the old sections before adding new ones. I’m using common-rail wiring but when I inserted the gaps at the block boundaries, I gapped boh rails. I know that isn’t necessary with common-rail wiring, except with loops, but since I’m a “cover all the bases just in case” and a suspenders and belt type of guy (some of my friends call it “paranoid”), I gapped both rails and provided feeders to both rails in each block. Well, it paid off! I decided to rotate one of the sections 180 deg. in its new location. I didn’t have to change or add one single track feeder. I just had to reverse the wires to the terminal strips that the feeders were connected to (and I’m replacing the wiring anyway). It was almost no extra trouble to put in two gaps instead of one. I’m glad I did. [:D]
Smart idea Bob, glad it paid off. Planning ahead even when you don’t know you are doing it works well.
Tim
Overkill? Not at all. By gapping both rails, you also make trouble shooting for shorts and stuff so much easier. Over kill would be a different block every 2 inches with two feeder wires going to each rail in each block!
This is why I have feeders for EVERY track section. When I go back to install blocks for train detection and signalling, I can cut gaps where I need without having to worry that I will render a section of track unpowered.
–Randy