Here’s another question I have: I am in the process of converting to DCC. My layout has a double ended yard with ladder turnouts (Shinohara code 70, live frogs) at either end. The body tracks are gapped because in DC, I had them electrically isolated using toggles for dual cab control. Now with DCC I am going to feed those tracks from my main track bus (14AWG solid wires). Now to my main question: should I connect feeders to each of the turnouts in the ladder, at their point ends instead of relying on each of the previous turnout for power continuity? Would this be overkill, or just add certainty for power from turnout to turnout in the ladders?
Thanks!
Assuming everything worked OK in straight DC, adding more feeders for DCC operation likely isn’t necessary. I don’t feed every piece of rail in a yard ladder, but I do solder rail joints to ensure uninterrupted electrical flow.
If you add feeders to every turnout, you’ll also have to add insulated joints between the points and the preceeding hot frog. Gross overkill.
I would retain at least an SPST toggle to one rail of each yard body track, so you can kill the sound on any locomotive left standing there. Even when not moving, sound-equipped locos require considerable power - and having a lot of them rumbling in idle (or hissing and occasionally having air pumps cutting in and out) can get annoying in a hurry.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with silent locomotives)
On my last layout, every piece of rail was either soldered to a feeder, or soldered to a piece of rail with a feeder. On my yard ladders I soldered the outer rail together. Every turnout had a feeder to EVERY separate piece of rail, including extremely flexible wire to the turnout points.
Yes, it was a lot of work, but I NEVER had electrical problems. Ever.
I hope to start my next layout within six months or so, and I fully intend to do the same again. Reliable operation is worth it to me.
Michael
Michael - Welcome to trains.com! [C):-)]
Thanks for the welcome!
Though I didn’t start layout building until 2003, I’ve been a modeler since 1970. I’ve operated on a lot of other folks’ railroads, and I’ve noticed that the more attention paid to reliability up front, the fewer tears are shed during operation.
The Bayfield Transfer Railway Circle Pines Division is no more, but I hope to start on the Bayfield Transfer Railway Whatever Division once we graduate and move!
Michael
If everything is working satisfactorily in DC, (theoretically) all you should have to do is disconnect the two DC cabs and then connect the DCC leads to one of the former DC cabs, (this assumes that the existing wiring is adequate in gauge, and there is some sort of automatic control of the live frog polarities, etc).