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Basic electric question

DV dan venetOGR Forum Member

I am still trying to figure out why I cannot power up my new scaletrax layout. Earlier I posted my problem on the forum and just had an additional question. I am running a bus line from my MTH power terminal. This terminal block is connected to my transformer. I have run a two wire 18 gauge bus line around the layout and spliced in 12 of the Scaletrax lockons which consists of the three wires ( one red and two black. At the end of the bus line I connected the last of the 12 scaletrax lockons. At that point I did not connect that end of the bus line to additonal terminal strip. My electrical question is: could this be why I am not getting power to the track?  This may seem like a strange question but I am searching for a reason why I cannot get power to my layout track.  Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Dan

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FM Former Member

You need to isolate the problem to find out exactly where you are losing power, if you even have any power coming out at all. Take a multi meter and check the back posts of the transformer, then check the inputs to your terminal black, then the outputs of your terminal block, and finally the track. That will tell you if you have power at all, and where you're losing it at.

DV dan venetOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Laidoffsick: Thanks! I just purchased a meter o do just that. I will head to the trainroom! Thanks
 

You need to isolate the problem to find out exactly where you are losing power, if you even have any power coming out at all. Take a multi meter and check the back posts of the transformer, then check the inputs to your terminal black, then the outputs of your terminal block, and finally the track. That will tell you if you have power at all, and where you're losing it at.

 

DV dan venetOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Susan Deats:Thanks Susan. I am headed to te trainroom and will begin the process you suggested. Dan

When you start from scratch with your instructions,  3 tracks connected with one lockon, and the Z4000, will the train run (or a car light)?  If no, troubleshoot those components to find the solution.  When that setup works, add power to one lockon at a time.

 

If you need 12 lockons, you may need 16 gauge wire.

 

P phillyreadingOGR Forum Member

The most likely cause is too small a wire! Try using 16 AWG which can handle 10 amps.

Long wire runs also need to step-up a wire size to overcome resistance, a bus run needs to have a larger wire size than what is rated from the transformer because of a short happening on the layout, too much power draw even for 5 seconds can melt some smaller wires.

MTH's smaller transformer the Z-750 puts out 75 watts at about 21 volts, so I would use 18 gauge wire with this one. The Z-1000 puts out 100 watts at 21 volts, so I would use 16 gauge wire for this one. With Z-4000 it would be best to use 14 gauge wire for most runs, 12 gauge if a longer run.

 

Lee F.

pennsyk4pennsyk4OGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by dan venet:

I am still trying to figure out why I cannot power up my new scaletrax layout. Earlier I posted my problem on the forum and just had an additional question. I am running a bus line from my MTH power terminal. This terminal block is connected to my transformer. I have run a two wire 18 gauge bus line around the layout and spliced in 12 of the Scaletrax lockons which consists of the three wires ( one red and two black. At the end of the bus line I connected the last of the 12 scaletrax lockons. At that point I did not connect that end of the bus line to additonal terminal strip. My electrical question is: could this be why I am not getting power to the track?  This may seem like a strange question but I am searching for a reason why I cannot get power to my layout track.  Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Dan

Dan

After connecting all the wires, did you turn on the plugged in transformer?

rrmanrrmanOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by pennsyk4:

Dan

After connecting all the wires, did you turn on the plugged in transformer?

NOW REALLY!! No one I know would ever be that dumb to forget to turn on the power (he says as he scratches his balding head  having forgot to plug the cord from transformer to the TIU inputs.....)  :-o

L ljwqpcsOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by phillyreading:
The most likely cause is too small a wire! Try using 16 AWG which can handle 10 amps.
Long wire runs also need to step-up a wire size to overcome resistance, a bus run needs to have a larger wire size than what is rated from the transformer because of a short happening on the layout, too much power draw even for 5 seconds can melt some smaller wires.
MTH's smaller transformer the Z-750 puts out 75 watts at about 21 volts, so I would use 18 gauge wire with this one. The Z-1000 puts out 100 watts at 21 volts, so I would use 16 gauge wire for this one. With Z-4000 it would be best to use 14 gauge wire for most runs, 12 gauge if a longer run.

Lee F.


I just joined this forum and as is coincident I am just getting reading to wire up my tracks and accessories. My main question is that I have 4 main lines lets say in a rectangle 16x20 ft. What gauge should I use for my bus lines, as best I can research it should be 12. BTW each lines has a lionel zw 275 watt. Thanks in advance
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