CW-80 Transformer

Yes. Run wires from the transformer to a lock on (or soldier wires to the track directly). 

Yes. Same as Michael says. I would recommend several power drops depending on the length of the track. 

Bob 

RSJB18 posted:

Yes. Same as Michael says. I would recommend several power drops depending on the length of the track. 

Bob 

Bob what is a power drop? What can be done to prevent this from happening? 

Allan 

Allan,

A power drop is a connection to the track at various intervals along the loop.  If you had a big round loop of track, you might put a power drop at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions on the loop. This provides power to a number of spots along the loop and assures smooth, evenly powered trains.

A power drop is also a drop in power (or voltage) along a long length of track, or the drop in voltage on a long piece of wire feeding your track.  Using power drops (as referred to above) will keep you layout from suffering from too much power drop!

Hope this helps!

Ed

 ps. I prefer to just solder the wires from the transformer (CW80) to the track.  Black goes to the two outer rails and red goes to the center rail.  Solder will eliminate corrosion which may create... you guessed it! Power drop!

Allan Martinez posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Yes. Same as Michael says. I would recommend several power drops depending on the length of the track. 

Bob 

Bob what is a power drop? What can be done to prevent this from happening? 

Allan 

Alan

I agree with EDDIEM. solder the connections and "drop" one every 5-10 feet. Before I built my layout I had a carpet central with only one lock on and a CW80. My Scout loco would die on the far side of the loop.  I added another power connection on the farthest point and everything was fine. 

Voltage drop is when the power to the track is reduced due to long runs and poor connections. 

Bob

eddiem posted:

Allan,

A power drop is a connection to the track at various intervals along the loop.  If you had a big round loop of track, you might put a power drop at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions on the loop. This provides power to a number of spots along the loop and assures smooth, evenly powered trains.

A power drop is also a drop in power (or voltage) along a long length of track, or the drop in voltage on a long piece of wire feeding your track.  Using power drops (as referred to above) will keep you layout from suffering from too much power drop!

Hope this helps!

Ed

 ps. I prefer to just solder the wires from the transformer (CW80) to the track.  Black goes to the two outer rails and red goes to the center rail.  Solder will eliminate corrosion which may create... you guessed it! Power drop!

Ed sorry to bother you this late hour, but can you also get a power drop using a bus line for the entire layout?

Allan 

Allan Martinez posted:

eddiem posted:

Allan,

A power drop is a connection to the track at various intervals along the loop.  If you had a big round loop of track, you might put a power drop at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions on the loop. This provides power to a number of spots along the loop and assures smooth, evenly powered trains.

A power drop is also a drop in power (or voltage) along a long length of track, or the drop in voltage on a long piece of wire feeding your track.  Using power drops (as referred to above) will keep you layout from suffering from too much power drop!

Hope this helps!

Ed

 ps. I prefer to just solder the wires from the transformer (CW80) to the track.  Black goes to the two outer rails and red goes to the center rail.  Solder will eliminate corrosion which may create... you guessed it! Power drop!

Ed sorry to bother you this late hour, but can you also get a power drop using a bus line for the entire layout?

Allan 

I've read that its not recommended  to use a common ground.  MTH makes a 12 port terminal block that you can use to run your feeds from.  Model Train Stuff has it:  http://www.modeltrainstuff.com...ck-p/mth-50-1014.htm