Superior & Seattle Railroad Build

[S&S RR]

Today, I got the wires run to the yard from the control panel.  Next work session I will be able to connect the drops and power it up.  I'm looking forward to having trains running on the S&S RR again.

[S&S RR]

The cover is off the junction box and the wires for the yard are in place.  I should be testing tomorrow.  

[sdrees]

John,

What are all the wall switches for?

[S&S RR]

John,

What are all the wall switches for?

Hi Steve


My layout is sectioned into 123 blocks and 14 power districts (I keep adding).  I can turn off a block with the switches to help with finding a short or to turn off locomotives that are sitting. It is the best thing I ever did.  It makes it so easy to find problems. It paid for itself in both time and money the first time I had to find a pair of track nippers that was laying in a tunnel.  If you check out the index on page 1 you will find the page where I explain the wiring in more detail.

[sdrees]

John,

Thanks, so do you have 123 of these switches around your layout?  You do this instead of circuit breakers?.  I think the Frank/Eireman does something similar.

Thanks again,

[S&S RR]

John,

Thanks, so do you have 123 of these switches around your layout?  You do this instead of circuit breakers?.  I think the Frank/Eireman does something similar.

Thanks again,

Steve


Yes - there are 4 different control panels.  I still have all the circuit breakers - the switches just allow me to turn a section of track off or better yet isolate it from the others. To find a short I just turn switches off until I clear it and I know which section of track to go look at to find it. Since I'm constantly working on the layout it is nice to be able to run on part of the layout.


I'm not sure if Frank does this  - good question to ask him next time we talk.

[sdrees]

John,

I am at the point where I need to decide on how I am going to wire my layout.  I have decided on the NCE system for controls, but the remainder of the wiring I haven't.  This is the subject I know the least about.

Thanks for your help,

[deemery]

John,

I am at the point where I need to decide on how I am going to wire my layout.  I have decided on the NCE system for controls, but the remainder of the wiring I haven't.  This is the subject I know the least about.

Thanks for your help,

This site is invaluable, and not just for DCC installations:  http://www.wiringfordcc.com


dave

[sdrees]

Thanks Dave, just added it to my favorites list.

[S&S RR]

John,

I am at the point where I need to decide on how I am going to wire my layout.  I have decided on the NCE system for controls, but the remainder of the wiring I haven't.  This is the subject I know the least about.

Thanks for your help,

Hi Steve


I am very happy with my choice of NCE for a DCC system.  The site that Dave posted above is great.  As to my input, a standard DCC wiring scheme works great on smaller layouts where you can see everything from one place.  In my case the layout is L shaped with plans to expand into two more rooms in the future. I also have many tunnels and hidden areas.  I wanted a way to find the location of problems quickly, so I combined the traditional DC block wiring with the standard DCC power districts. My power districts are broken up into blocks so I can turn on and off each section of track with a started house light switch.  This really helps with installations and trouble shooting and really is worth the extra effort in my opinion.  If you check out page 23 - 27 of this thread you can follow along on the installation.  Please let me know if you have questions and good luck with your installation.

[bparrish]

John......

I might have divided my railroad in a similar fashion but didn't know the right words.  I have an around the room pike and it uses a single pair of bus wires for the DCC.  The source wire from the control panel comes in approximately in the middle.  I put DPDT switches in several places in the bus wires and made gaps in the rails directly above.  They are in areas that are clear of turnouts and clutter. 

I also have an indicator light that is simply across the rails to show power to the rails.  When a short occurs that I can't easily find I start away from the source and turn off switches until some track indicator comes back on as the short has turned them all off.  When one or more lights come back on the offending area / block has been found.

I find though that most shorts are operators backing cars into closed turnouts or that a car in a yard or siding has bridged the gap in the turnout.  When the turnout is cleared back to the main the short occurs. 

My operators have learned a diagnostic trick that I used when managing an automotive shop for Mercedes Benz.................  What did I do most recently ? ? ? ?  Start there.

see ya
Bob

[sdrees]

Thanks John. The other day I went thru your thread and read what you did with your wiring.  It was very helpful.

[S&S RR]

John......

I might have divided my railroad in a similar fashion but didn't know the right words.  I have an around the room pike and it uses a single pair of bus wires for the DCC.  The source wire from the control panel comes in approximately in the middle.  I put DPDT switches in several places in the bus wires and made gaps in the rails directly above.  They are in areas that are clear of turnouts and clutter. 

I also have an indicator light that is simply across the rails to show power to the rails.  When a short occurs that I can't easily find I start away from the source and turn off switches until some track indicator comes back on as the short has turned them all off.  When one or more lights come back on the offending area / block has been found.

I find though that most shorts are operators backing cars into closed turnouts or that a car in a yard or siding has bridged the gap in the turnout.  When the turnout is cleared back to the main the short occurs. 

My operators have learned a diagnostic trick that I used when managing an automotive shop for Mercedes Benz.................  What did I do most recently ? ? ? ?  Start there.

see ya
Bob

Hi Bob


Thanks for stopping by the thread and the input.  It sounds like you have a similar design.  I wish I could get your Mercedes Benz diagnostic trick to work when I'm trying to find my glasses.

[S&S RR]

Thanks John. The other day I went thru your thread and read what you did with your wiring.  It was very helpful.

Steve


Good to hear - let me know if you have any questions along the way.  That's why we have a forum.

[S&S RR]

Interesting statistic - this thread has passed the 200,000 views mark.  I think that's amazing and real evidence that our hobby is alive and well. Now - back to work so I have something to post.