Wiring Problem

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I am new to model railroading and am in the process of building my first HO layout. I have set up some track in a simple 15 foot loop just to get my feet wet. I have laid the track, put in a couple of turnouts and soldered the rail joints. I am using a simple 1 engine controller that I have wired to the track, again just to test and get my feet wet. I am using 14 gauge wire from the controller to the track.

While testing, I have run into a problem. The engine will not move without being gently pushed to get it started and when it gets about half way around the loop, it slows to a crawl and the light dims, even with a full throttle. Once the engine starts moving again, it goes half way around the loop again and starts to crawl. This happens with more then one controller and with more then one engine I have tested. What have I done wrong?

2

[#welcome]

It sounds like you need more feeders to your track. You can run the 14ga. wire to the furthest point and solder smaller feed wires to the rails to it. The rail joiners are probematic when it comes to electrical conductivity.

Pete

3

The key to wiring a DCC layout is never use the rails to wire the layout. Nickel has a much higher resistance than copper, and the fishplate joiners are worse. you must run a parallel feeder with copper wire under/beside your track with light droppers every few feet…