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Track Wiring Considerations - continued
Rail Gaps
Create rail gaps using a Dremel tool with a cutting disk.
Gap both rails at the same location. Do not stagger the gaps.
Gaps can close up due seasonal changes in humidity and
temperature. Closed gaps are a very real nuisance. Unless
you keep excellent records, a closed gap is very difficult to
locate. A piece of scrap styrene will help.
File and trim the piece of styrene to fit inside the gap and
glue it in place. Taking some time to do this now, during
construction, will pay large dividends in the future. With
styrene in between gaps, shorted gaps will not be an issue.
Power Zone Tips
Eliminate reversing loops and sections as much as practical. They cause wiring headaches,
operating problems and increase the overall cost of boosters since you must use autoreversing
boosters.
Length of track and wiring is not a concern. Some zones may be very short while others are
very long.
Use power cutout switches on staging tracks or yard sidings. This keeps trains from
accidentally moving should the operator forget to assign to deassign the throttle. It also
prevents inadvertent movement should a distant operator accidentally select the wrong train.
Consider adding track power indicators on tracks that are to have cutout switches.
Don’t cut gaps in areas where trains park. A parked train that has cars with metal wheels
may bridge gaps for a long period of time. Be sure that longest train in a siding does not bridge
power-zone gaps. If gaps are bridge by a locomotive or car wheel, zone isolation will be lost.
Reversing sections must be longer than the longest train to use the section. A wye must be
able to hold loco+cars without any rail gaps being bridged by cars or loco wheels.
Track Power Indicator
Use your favorite colored LED as a convenient track power indicator. Use a 2K 1/4 watt resistor
to limit the LED current. Solder across the track feeders or bus serving the area. Polarity doesn’t
matter. Small hookup wire is OK since very little current is needed. There are lots of LEDs
available in panel mount assemblies that will add a touch of elegance to your layout and help your
operators.
2K 1/4 Watt Resistor
LED
One Rail
Opposite Rail
Track Power Cutout Switches
Adding Power Cutout Switches is recommended for Staging Tracks and long sidings that will
hold idle trains for long periods of time. A double-pole switch is shown although a single pole
will also work. Be sure to use proper wire color to prevent accidentally reversing the wires when
connecting them to the track.
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