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Power Supply On G Scale Layout
Gerry has a G scale layout and is having power supply problems and asks readers for advice:
“I am a bit of a novice at all of this. My biggest problem is getting my small (12×16) layout to keep current throughout the track. The farther away from the power supply it gets the slower it goes and I can almost forget about turning on the lighting inside the cars (track powered) and the engine sounds. Has anyone got any clues as to how I can solve this problem?
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2 Responses to Power Supply On G Scale Layout
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Track is not the greatest conductor of electricity, no matter the scale. It sounds like the resistance of the track is dropping the voltage below that required by your locomotive.
You should be able to resolve the issue by running track power on 12 AWG or 10 AWG conductors (bus wire) below the layout and feeding the track with shorter track leads (probably 16 AWG or 18 AWG) soldered between the tracks and the bus wires.
I’m assuming that your power supply is rated for running large scale locomotives.
Hope this helps.
Hi Gerry, Very simple fix, you need more than 1 feed (power supply), run extra feed wires in the middle and the most distant part of your track. So you should have at LEAST 4 feed lines to the layout, if you still have loss of power you may need more. You should be able to run all your accessories at the same time. If this dont work you may need a bigger transformer or an additional one. Make sure you keep positive wire to positive track all around or you will short out. Also make sure all your track connections are tight and if this is going to be a permanent layout solder all your joints. By the way 12′ X 16′ is NOT a small layout. Tony P