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DCC and EZ Track for Christmas Layout
Jim asks readers:
“I have a Christmas HO layout using EzTrack around the tree and parts of living room.How many feet of track if any, will a simple 1 watt Dcc transformer support without jumper contacts. I will be running a single Broadway Limited Paragon 2 loco. Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving to all.”
3 Responses to DCC and EZ Track for Christmas Layout
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Jim You will know real quick that with only one connection to the rails that the farther you get away from the transformer in DC and the same will happen in DCC that you will loose power the farther away from the power unit you get. (The more track connections the more power loss. If you use buss wires around the track and connect to the rails every 4 to 6 feet you will hold the power much better. I started using DC and found that the power dropped the more switches I went through from the track connections. Even tracks of any distance using flex track, The more connections you go through the more power loss. When I started DCC I had a 5 am capable DCC system but to start with I only had an MRC DC/ AC power pack to power the DCC system that only had a capacity of 1 amp. That worked for a couple of engines but I also didn’t have engines with all the bells and whistles on them. I learned real quick that the power to run the DCC system was not enough to do everything I wanted to grow into on my layout. It did though, get me going on something small and learn the system.
OK now that I have told you all that, your one amp will power your DCC system for a small layout such as the tracks around the Christmas tree. But be prepared that after the Christmas Tree layout you will want to grow. I currently run my Tree Stump Railroad on Standard DC. To Convert over is as simple as connecting the DCC system to it. That Tree Stump Railroad was the circle of track that was under my Christmas Tree years ago. I have that power now to change over. When starting with DCC make sure you get the power supply to cover the power you will need. Most beginning DCC sets will come with it’s own power supply and if it doesn’t I would be considering getting one so you are not running from your old power supply. Your Paragon engine is probably loaded and will pull some power. By itself it may be OK but when you start adding engines with it you will know real quick. If it keeps kicking off at the old power supply breaker and not the DCC system breaker you will know.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Railroading under the Tree. from Newman Atkinson
Newman,,thanks for the reply and as suppected will go with the 5 amp power supply. And also add a few jumpers to help. Thanks again, jim
Jim Any questions as you go let me know, I will try to help. If I don’t know the answer I can at least tell you what not to do. My Tree stump Railroad will be attending it’s next train show under DCC power. It will be a big change for this railroad. Newman Atkinson