i have a ho scale and its a big track layout i have a set power pack do i need a bigger
Do you need a bigger power pack? If it’s a big layout and a small trainset power pack the answer is yes. Otherwise you won’t be able to run much on it other one, maybe two, cheap toy type locos. Even then the power pack will likely overload with two cheap locos and definitely will with two Athearn blue box locos. I used to use a MRC Tech4 280 ran could run several trains at once easily.
It depends on how many locos you’re trying to run at one time.
You could have a layout the size of a supermarket and run one modern can-motored locomotive with a Life-Like toy train pack. OTOH, if you assemble a string of intermodal cars with four six axle diesels on the point and two more pushing (all powered) even a big MRC pack designed for O-scale and garden railroads might be perilously close to overload.
Then, too, are you trying to run other things beside trains? Twin-coil switch machines, especially, can overload an entire system in a heartbeat. So can streetlights, building lights and working vehicle head and tail lights - it just takes more of them.
Some people go to humongous single power supplies. My take is to use several smaller power supplies (and keep train propulsion and fixed accessories separate.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Are you having problems now? If so, what kind? What kind of power packs do you have? Is there anything you want to do you cannot do now because of the power packs?
More details will get you better answers.
All so welcome to the site.
Cuda Ken
i have three ovals on a 4x8 peice of plywood i have eight terminal post and i have all my wires going to a think its called a d post then to my power pack and i cant get it to mve at all what do u think it might be and i am only running i engine
If it doesn’t move at all, power isn’t getting to the tracks. You need a test lamp or a multimeter to check for power at the power pack, at the “eight terminal post” and then at the rails. Either you have an open circuit or a short circuit between the rails.
The amount of track doesn’t matter. A trainset power pack has enough juice to run one medium sized locomotive.
First thing I would do is make sure you have power and a working engine. Unhook the power pack from the track, there should be 2 wires hooked to the DC side of the power pack. If not there is one problem. Have the throttle set to say 50% and touch one wire to one wheel say the left, then the other to the right side. If engine runs you have a good engine and power supply.
Not sure what you meant but here we go.
If the engine ran, then hook the wires to say only the out side loop. If it runs, then you are miss wiring the other 2 loops. All the wires must match to which rail it is hooked to. All the wires for the out side rail must go to out side rails on the other loops. All the wires for the inside rail must hook to other inside rails.
If you have turnouts (switches) where the train can go to one loop then another loop, that opens up a whole new set of problems.
Again, more details! We are guessing you are DC power, but we don’t know. Heck, you could have a DCC system, track is wired right and have a DC engine.
Cuda Ken
Hi,
I am in DC and wrote up a little something about my power packs that are in use on my layout. Maybe that can be of help. Here is the link http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/168228/1850773.aspx#1850773
Hope it helps
Frank
PS: welcome to the forum
Maybe it is my failing knowledge of the English language, but I do have problems identifying the OP´s issue.
Is it that the power pack from his train set does not deliver enough amps to the trackage or does he have a problem wiring different circuits with more than one power pack?
Ulrich, I think it more or there failing English. Details would sure help.I am guessing the poster wired it wrong.
Ken
The best way to diagnose an electrical problem is to disconnect everything. Test the power pack to be sure it is working. If it is, hook up a short piece of track and put the engine on it. If the engine works then it is good. Then hook things up one at a time, testing after each connection until the problem occurs. Whatever you hooked up last is the problem.