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Layout Wiring With DCC
Andy models N scale and posts this question for readers:
“I am about to start wiring my layout and using DCC. My Power Bus starts at the outlet of the DCC connection but what is the best way to ‘anchor’ or ‘finish’ the other end of the bus? Thanks, Andy M (Wiring Newbie).”
If you can assist Andy, please post your suggestions below his post.
13 Responses to Layout Wiring With DCC
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You have multiple options depending on how much you want to spend, The cheap end is wire nuts on the end of each wire. The better route is to use DCC Concepts ~ DCC Snubber ~ Track Bus Spike Suppressors & Terminator they are about $20
Thanks Andrew,
Your information is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Andy M
Hello Andy, I model in DCC scale HO. What my friends and I have concurred is to have your power bus wires branching off in two opposite directions.(ie To your right and left.) You dont have to join the two ends of the bus wires. The second most important thing I Learned myself is to follow the left rail and right rail rules of wiring a decoder. What I did was to initially use a DC locomotive Shunter 0-6-0 because its limited pickup will show track weakness. I placed the locomotive only in one direction moving forward named the right of the loco cab the right rail and left of the cab as the left rail. I never made a mistake or had any shorts in connecting, a double slip, points of various makes and diamond crossings. Since I modelled in DC earlier, I made my points , double slip DCC friendly with the help of my dremel and soldering skills. I used dropper or feeder wires every three feet because my layout has a running length of 160 plus feet. But generally a DCC base station with a 4 amp current output will suffice to run upto about 4 locomotives with using power boosters. I took the precaution of having isolated sections on my track sidings to park locomotives i will not use, so that the decoder in the parked idling locomotive will not be getting hot whilst not in operation. As you know heat is not good for a decoder.. Youtube too has some very educative presentations.
Thanks Faizal,
Your information is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Andy M
1 use the dcc sniffer at the end. And between the power source and layout I the NCE circuit breaker to help protect the decoder from any possible shorts.
Thanks Raymond,
Your information is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Andy M
My memory, such as it is, tells me that Digitrax does NOT recommend snubbers or think them necessary. Other brands of DCC do suggest snubbers. I use Digitrax w/o snubbers and have had zero issues’\.
Unless you have a large layout I wouldn’t worry about it beyond making sure the ends of the wires don’t touch each other or anything else that can cause a short. As for starting the bus at the DCC connection, I would recommend that, unless it is a very small layout, you configure the connection near the middle of the bus. That way the DCC signals won’t attenuate too much before they reach the ends of the bus.
Thanks Dale,
Your information is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Andy M
It depends how long the bus is. Mine was 12 feet and I just simply “tied” the end of the wire to an eye hook. I don’t know how long a bus can be before you need a snubber.
Note that shorter busses are better, and rather than starting at the power outlet and going one way, you can get a shorter but by having it go both ways, ie left and right, from the power outlet.
Thanks Geoff,
Your information is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Andy M
Very good info.Love this site.
If you are starting with DCC, I advice buying a small book on the basics of DCC, which will probably answer all your questions in one go. (Along with all the questions you never thought of !-)