Comments on: What’s The Best Distance Between Track Feeders?

By: Jim Bennett

Jim Bennett — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 01:05:23 +0000

Just to be sure ….most of these comments are related to DCC layouts….I have DC I have inherited and am assuming I just use feeders from the “Common” rail to the “Common” buss line.

By: Robert Anderson

Robert Anderson — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 04:29:33 +0000

In reply to Klaas vandenbos.

http://www.modelbuildings.org/free-calculator-tools.html

By: Klaas vandenbos

Klaas vandenbos — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 04:25:23 +0000

In reply to Louis van Zyl. Good evening, Yes I am very interested in getting the Model Railroad Calculator tool, please tell me how or would you be able to send a link to me ?

By: Louis van Zyl

Louis van Zyl — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 17:25:59 +0000

When deciding the distance that drop wires must be, the voltage and current must be taken into account. A 22 awg wire of 6 feet will give a 2% drop in voltage at 12V / 2A and a 16 awg wire under the same conditions will only drop 0.7%. I use the Model Railroad Calculator Tool to calculate the losses on wires when deciding on wire thickness. The tool is free if anybody is interested.

By: Ian McIntosh

Ian McIntosh — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 16:54:37 +0000

Track and wiring oxidize, so what works now may not in 5 or 10 years. I’ve seen layouts with “40 year wiring rot”. The answer depends on how long you expect your layout to last.

By: Dave Winslow

Dave Winslow — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 13:40:46 +0000

I’m with Steve. If you can add them conveniently later, don’t try to anticipate how many you need. Use one and add on as performance indicates the need. It all depends upon how much current is drawn, and that depends upon what engines, how many cars dragged along, etc. Steel track is not a good conductor, brass is excellent, and that might be the biggest variable of all. Good luck

By: Don Jennings

Don Jennings — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 10:34:56 +0000

Not knowing how big or small a layout you have every 6 to 8 feet is a general rule what we in the USA use. You do not have to use this. You are a model railroader, use what suits you. . These feeder wires connect to a Positive and Negative Terminals from your power supply and are under the table ==CORRECT??== That is a BUSS wire. This is so you do not rely on the rail connectors on top of the table that connect to your track. SO bottom line here — use what you want do and let the other guys ask you what you used.

By: Keith parrish

Keith parrish — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 09:30:19 +0000

I am here in the UK and I found that every 4ft works for me but an easy way to work it out let’s say your track size is 15ft. So put your droppers say 10ft if all locomotives struggle the add more until your locomotives run smoothly then yours is set up. Therefore track layouts sizes is not the problem, droppers can be fit to what your track size, but also think about you may need put power steps ups

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 07:20:30 +0000

If bus lines for + and – are run under your baseboard, then I recommend a dropper from each length of track. This might be 3′ or 1 metre on the main, but as close as 6″ in yards and complex situations. Anything less is false economy. Expense is not an issue as each dropper need only reach the bus – maybe 6″ at most. The upside is that you get very good at soldering – a skill you need to develop to its highest level in order to build a layout.

By: Tom Osterdock

Tom Osterdock — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 06:36:44 +0000

I put a feeder on every switch and switchable power to the frog. I put at least one feeder on every section of track. I use flex track. If I have a piece of track 3inches long between switches it will have a feeder on it. I use 22 gauge wire for feeders and 16 gauge for the DCC bus.

By: Rguercio

Rguercio — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 03:00:17 +0000

Iran drops every 4 to 6 feet on over 600 feet of American Flyer track I don’t show any power sags in anywhere

By: ROBERT SCHWORM

ROBERT SCHWORM — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 02:53:34 +0000

I have been informed, for at least DCC, to run a dropper on every section of track. In my case that is flext track and each section is 39 inches. The idea of soldering joiners is a mixed opinion. Preferably, I do not care to solder the track and no point to it if each section has a dropper. That includes turnouts.

In my own installation, I have 1 inch of foam board on 1/2 inch plywood. I then use foam board adhesive and run a smear over the track plan to hold down foam roadbed. I then use 1″ nails thru the members, down thru the smear and foam board to hold the track. The smear really grabs the nails, but are still easy to pull up if you need to adjust the track. Also, a putty knife under the roadbed nicely releases the roadbed, and both can be easily moved or recycled. I do not prefer to glue down my ballast with pva as it turns into concrete and then if you need to move, you will destroy it and loose all your investment in the track work. DO NOT ballast track until you have extensively run your trains over all track for at least 6 months to be sure all is solid.