Conventional Buss Wiring

Do I lose a degree of power with barrier strips?  

I can go either way but would prefer the sectional approach.

Sure you can go with the terminal strips providing the wire is heavy enough and all connections are tight. I'd probably use stranded  #14 gauge wire for the buss. From the buss to the track perhaps a smaller gauge wire. #16

Yes, certainly do it that way. Having multiple terminal strips of either type will provide you with connections for track and accessory feeds.

There should be no power loss unless a connection is loose. I concur with Gregg, 12-14g for the buss and 16 for the track feeds. Accessory feeds can be smaller as needed.

The 14g may be easier to locate as it a common size for electrical installations(cost a little less, too!)

I would say no problem with the correct wire gauge (14 awg) and good connections. In fact it's better to have periodic terminal sections if you want to add more stuff like switches and accessories later on. I found standard terminal strips to be too small plus you need jumpers to convert them to bus bars. I splurged and bought these marine quality brass bus bars. Big and easy to create a "no doubt" wire connection with spade terminals.

Thanks for your answers they have been helpful..

I do this 4 times on my 15x32 to accommodate lift out sections. I do not encounter any problems.

bptbill,

I used 8 position terminal strips for an 8 wire buss. What I have found is having to tie multiple grounds at certain locations is more spade connectors that will comfortable fit. 2 spade terminals on each side fits comfortably, but if you want the third or more, it's a pain.

I may replace them with the euro-style barrier strip.

I will get some of these to use.

Don't confuse the barrier strips with buss bar strip. Each location is isolated on a barrier strip. The buss bar type gives you multiple locations for two circuits.

Alternate point to point wiring scheme

I use DCS and conventional power for my layout and use isolated blocks. I have found that running two conductor cable to "each" block is much more reliable and assures that the signal from my DCS system is provided by a continuous wire to the track. Each block has a connection to both the center rail and the outside rail of every block.  This way I can easily isolate a power problem to a block. I then do not have to trouble shoot an entire "power bus".  Each "block" is also individually fused so that a derailment will only affect that block and none other. I use 18 gauge two conductor cable since my cable length is under 12 feet maximum.

Note: I have found that the extra cost for wire is actually less than the need to supply bus bars and multiple connectors for a "bus" system.  As already mentioned individual block wiring is very easy to trouble shoot since only one pair of wires is involved. Each wire pair can be identified with a label indicating the "block" number and individual fuse number. This block number is also shown on my Dispatcher Panel.

thanks pro hobby I am getting a better understanding now of what I think I should be doing. When you say "block" ... Am I reading this right, you run separate power to center and outside rail not just the center rail? So that from a center point I split my layout into equal parts and run out from the center point .

So here is what I understand now.

As of now I am running an old ZW conventional only

Transformer to center point then out to blocks. 

Yes I run a pair of wires to "each" block.  I use security type cable as shown in the attachment. One wire connects to the center and the second wire connects to the outer rail. This assures that each block has a complete electrical "loop" wiring.

When you say "block" ... Am I reading this right, you run separate power to center and outside rail not just the center rail? So that from a center point I split my layout into equal parts and run out from the center point .

 

a Block is an insulated section of track. While you are mostly correct, you have to insulate the track sections with plastic pins so the sections between each"block" do NOT conduct electricity.

I think it would be helpful if you decide which type of control system you intend to use.

The configuration of the buss is a straight feed with Lionel and a star pattern, like pro hobby described for MTH DCS.

Here is a link to an old school Lionel manual. The concepts have not changed. This is a good starter for things trains. 1954 Lionel Operator's Manual.

It is only necessary to isolate the center rail in each block. The outer rails do not need to be isolated.

On my DCS system I can power down (remove power) to each block using my DCS TIU/AIU combination. I disconnect power only to the center rail.

This "star" wiring scheme is useable for either DCS or conventional control systems.