[?]I’m just full of questions today[?] I’m planning to add Atlas auto switches to my railyard. But the DCC system is opptsite the side of the Layout (it’s in a converded two car garage) The layout size is 14ft X 12ft, will the distance of the wires after I solder some wire together to reach the DCC system, will it make any proformance difference?? Thanks TrainsRMe [;)]
Firs of all, do not wire the switches to your DCC power! Find an old DC tpower pack and use it. If you are using the Atlas ‘twin-coil’ machines, run at least #18 gauge wire - those machines draw a lot of power when they are actvated!
Jim Bernier
Use big thick wires for your DCC bus, and you should be all right. Another thing to consider is relocating your power booster to the middle of the layout, so the runs are shorter to the far ends.
Installing a capacitive discharge circuit will do a world of good for any twin-coil switch machines.
What I have heard from many others is that you are better off using the DC powerpack method and not your DCC system if you are using “snap” switches. Slow motion type switches (Tortoise and others) can be used with stationary decoders built for the job and wired into the DCC bus. Personally, I use DC to power all my non DCC accesories including switch machines.
OK Gents,
I will do that, Thanks for the info. TrainsRMe