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The electrical side of model railways can seem too complex for anyone not
familiar with the workings of electricity. Many modellers can end up with a
rat's nest of wiring under their layouts. But for basic layouts, it's not at all
difficult. Today DCC (digital command control) is an increasingly popular method of control which simplifies wiring. DC systems. This is pretty straightforward, and instructions in the train set
should cover this anyway. The important thing to remember is never to connect AC
to the track. If you do, your locomotive will probably hum or shudder. The motor
will be trying to go both ways at once. This is obviously impossible, and if
left this way more than a few seconds may damage the motor beyond repair. Above: AC and DC outputs on a typical model
railway power pack. The other end of the wires usually go to a socket, terminal or other device on the rails or clipped onto a section of track. The majority of model railways operate on 12 volt DC (Direct Current). The 16
volt AC (Alternating Current) on many train transformers is intended for
accessories like remote controlled points (the junction tracks), signals or
lighting in model houses or streets. If you are going to operate more than a few
of these, you will usually need to invest in a separate transformer to power
them, as the more you have operating, the less power you have left to run the
trains. You may find your power supply being constantly overloaded. In most
cases, this trips a thermal overload switch that will shut down the power to
protect the transformer. Usually these need a few minutes to cool down before
resetting. If you want to run two trains at once, the simplest method is to build a second track circuit. This usually takes the form of converting the single track to double track. One controller is connected to the outside track and another to the inside track. Effectively two separate train sets, one inside the other. The "problems" really begin when you wish to run more than one train on one
track or if you have double track, to run trains from one to the other without
difficulty. Also if you intentionally or unintentionally put a reverse loop into
your track plan. That is, if you have a track arrangement where a train can turn
around and run back in the opposite direction along the same track. Without
special wiring and insulated joins, you will get a short circuit and the train
will not run. Further, the fuse or thermal cut-out in your controller will shut
off power to the track to prevent damage to the transformer. DCC systems. The other increasingly popular standard is known as DCC. This
stands for Digital Command Control. With DCC, the speed and direction of
the train is controlled from within the locomotive itself instead from the
voltage on the rails. Each locomotive has a digital decoder installed which is
programmed to have a unique address (or number). A digital command station (DCC
controller) sends a coded command along the rails. Only the locomotive the
command is addressed to will respond. It is
therefore possible to have several trains on the layout all individually
controlled without complicated wiring and isolating switches everywhere.
Recently the price of entry-level DCC items have come down in price to the point
where a basic DCC system is no more expensive than a good quality DC controller.
Given that you won't need so much wiring, isolating sections and switches, it
could actually work out cheaper in some cases.
Page updated 05/01/2009. |