Thank you so much for this video! This made it easy for me to understand DDC wiring. I’m a newbie to the hobby and am going to setup my first layout very soon!
I have three questions. Do the bus wires just go in the middle of the layout as you illustrated in the video or do they follow wherever the track goes underneath? Are terminal strips needed to wire a dcc layout and if so, how do I use them? And when I’m connecting my feeders to the bus wire, do I just strip away the part of the bus wire where I’m going to solder it to?
@ Also, I have one more question. Are the wires from the dcc controller or command station supposed to be bus wires or feeder wires that you illustrated in the diagram?
I have a diorama with two independent tracks, which are not connected by a turnout track. In this case, it would basically be your illustration in the video without the turnout track, would that also work? I mean, can I connect each red wire from each track and each black wire from each track, being them from track circuits without connections between each other and then connect the 2 final wires (4 interconnected wires) to the DCC? To have a DCC power supply for two different track circuits... remembering that it is a small diorama for displaying locomotives.
And another thing for those of us in DCC, length of wire run isnt necessarily the issue rather voltage loss. As long as your voltage stays the same along your tracks you're fine. What I do is... 1. Place booster in the middle of track run with isolation gaps (4 total if wiring a single mainline) on each end of track section. 2. Assuming feeders are already soldered to EACH piece of 36" or 40" piece of flex track, wire/solder 2 sets of feeders for 2 track pieces on each side of the booster bus wire and test for power. Do this until you're reasonably far away from booster to notice LESS than a 1V drop. Anything ABOVE 1V is completely unacceptable. Using an RRAMPMETER is a very good way to check both volts and amps. Remember that amperage fluctuates with sound and engines running around but VOLTAGE MUST REMAIN THE SAME NO MATTER WHAT. if it's meant to be 14.5V it must read 14.5V or roughly alike all the way around that section of isolated track.
Good Job, easy to follow. step by step illustration as your explaining. Keep this up, Thank you. I am just beginning my wiring on DCC. I sort of copied Ron Nash from Ron's trains n things with the main bus and sub bus, leaving room for circuit breakers in between isolated sections of track. My problem is im using all atlas track, with a combination of snap switches and custom line turnouts with a total of 12 turnouts on a 4x8 ish, layout. 2 full loops, 2 switching areas off main line, 4 spurs and another main line in center running off of layout for further expansion. LOL. all track is nailed and soldered. with plastic rail joiners dividing track in four sections. I have lots more wiring to do, trains dont like the gaps between plastic joiners, so Im thinking of pulling them out and using epoxy instead
These videos have been super helpful! Small question, does it matter what side of the track the black and red wires go to? On the layout that I'm building, I have the black wire running to the inside rail and the red going to the outside.
In both 2 and 3 rail system you must feed the power to the tracks every second metres. I do this way. I drive 2 rail with the Märklin system CS3 and the power feed is at 19 VDC.
*NEVER* loop only run your single strand of red/black wire with the booster the middle of wire run around your track but never loop the actual wires together!!
Thank you so much for this video! This made it easy for me to understand DDC wiring. I’m a newbie to the hobby and am going to setup my first layout very soon!
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent illustration and layout!!!
Many thanks!
I have three questions. Do the bus wires just go in the middle of the layout as you illustrated in the video or do they follow wherever the track goes underneath? Are terminal strips needed to wire a dcc layout and if so, how do I use them? And when I’m connecting my feeders to the bus wire, do I just strip away the part of the bus wire where I’m going to solder it to?
It can be in the middle or follow a track diagram, it depends on the layout shape. Try to avoid any screw terminal strips, need to solder everything.
@ ok thanks. I plan to make 4x8 oval with some spurs track plan.
@ Also, I have one more question. Are the wires from the dcc controller or command station supposed to be bus wires or feeder wires that you illustrated in the diagram?
@@Ice_Man431 No problem.
@@Ice_Man431 Wires from the DCC system are going to connect to the bus.
I have a diorama with two independent tracks, which are not connected by a turnout track. In this case, it would basically be your illustration in the video without the turnout track, would that also work? I mean, can I connect each red wire from each track and each black wire from each track, being them from track circuits without connections between each other and then connect the 2 final wires (4 interconnected wires) to the DCC? To have a DCC power supply for two different track circuits... remembering that it is a small diorama for displaying locomotives.
You can do it, becase bought of your diorama loops are optically insulated.
And another thing for those of us in DCC, length of wire run isnt necessarily the issue rather voltage loss. As long as your voltage stays the same along your tracks you're fine. What I do is...
1. Place booster in the middle of track run with isolation gaps (4 total if wiring a single mainline) on each end of track section.
2. Assuming feeders are already soldered to EACH piece of 36" or 40" piece of flex track, wire/solder 2 sets of feeders for 2 track pieces on each side of the booster bus wire and test for power. Do this until you're reasonably far away from booster to notice LESS than a 1V drop. Anything ABOVE 1V is completely unacceptable. Using an RRAMPMETER is a very good way to check both volts and amps. Remember that amperage fluctuates with sound and engines running around but VOLTAGE MUST REMAIN THE SAME NO MATTER WHAT. if it's meant to be 14.5V it must read 14.5V or roughly alike all the way around that section of isolated track.
Good Job, easy to follow. step by step illustration as your explaining. Keep this up, Thank you. I am just beginning my wiring on DCC. I sort of copied Ron Nash from Ron's trains n things with the main bus and sub bus, leaving room for circuit breakers in between isolated sections of track. My problem is im using all atlas track, with a combination of snap switches and custom line turnouts with a total of 12 turnouts on a 4x8 ish, layout. 2 full loops, 2 switching areas off main line, 4 spurs and another main line in center running off of layout for further expansion. LOL. all track is nailed and soldered. with plastic rail joiners dividing track in four sections. I have lots more wiring to do, trains dont like the gaps between plastic joiners, so Im thinking of pulling them out and using epoxy instead
You are welcome. I'm not sure about epoxy.
Just what I needed ! !! Thank you !!
You're so welcome!
Good explanation. I need help with powering my switching area with multiple turnout with powered frogs. That is getting hard!
Sure, I will do video.
I’m new to dcc, does this mean with a dcc, I really don’t need rail clamps due to a drop to every piece of track
Do you mean rail joiners?
These videos have been super helpful!
Small question, does it matter what side of the track the black and red wires go to?
On the layout that I'm building, I have the black wire running to the inside rail and the red going to the outside.
You are welcome. It doesn't matter the side. This will help if you adding feedback modules.
In both 2 and 3 rail system you must feed the power to the tracks every second metres. I do this way. I drive 2 rail with the Märklin system CS3 and the power feed is at 19 VDC.
I have a 15ftx5ft layout I have questions for wiring about
Go ahed ask, please.
*NEVER* loop only run your single strand of red/black wire with the booster the middle of wire run around your track but never loop the actual wires together!!
But don't you lose current in bus ?
Actually voltage, however, is not a big deal, compared to loosing voltage with out the bus.
@@dcctrain Because the bus is of an other material then the track or something ?
ok
@@pim1234 The material is usial stranded wires. I'm going to make new video soon, recentrly I got a lot of new questins.
Great info!
Thank you.
Здравствуйте!
На русском есть такое видео?
Привет, на русском пока нет. Когда сделаю, выложу на этом канале DCCTRAIN Plus youtube.com/@DCCTRAINPlus