DCCWiki, a community DCC encyclopedia.
| Wiring Topics
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| Basic wiring
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| Track wiring
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[edit] Overview
Due to the large number of related topics to wiring, this article is meant as a jumping off point to other articles. Brief summaries of each topic, with a link to the primary article for more detailed information.
[edit] General Wiring
- Wiring tools - First things first. You'll need some basic tools. Some simple electrical tools can be made for cheap that can save you hours of time and less frustration while wiring your layout.
- Wiring complexity - Wiring for your layout can be as simple or as complex as needed or desired for a given level of capabilities expected from the layout.
- Wiring color code -It's best to develop a color code when you're just getting started. However, it's most important to stick to it! This article explains picking a wire color code as well as wire sourcing to help you stick to your code.
- Wire sizes and spacing - Are these wire sizes overkill? How far apart should the bus feeders be? Answers to these, and more questions.
- Wire types - Using the correct type of wire is important for the durability of the track; selecting the correct wire type is important.
- Voltage drop - Model railroads have low tolerance for voltage drops throughout the layout. Be sure to use the proper wire gauge and feeder spacing.
[edit] Track Wiring
- Block detection - Block detection is a method for detecting rolling stock within a given section of track with the use of stationary decoders.
- No common rail wiring - In wiring for DC, modelers usually had a wire that was common to all blocks, in other words the rail it connected to was ungapped over the whole layout. Don't do this for DCC!
- Reverse sections - Although the electrical polarity on the rail does not control the direction of the loco, you still have to deal with reverse sections on your layout. If the track turns around back onto itself, the right rail will come in contact with the left rail which will cause a short circuit; the same as placing a metal object across the rails.
- Turntables - Wiring turntables
[edit] See Also
