Do I need to tell electrician about special power needs?

If there is going to be more than one electrical circuit for the plugs, make sure the circuits are all wired on the same phase. That way all the transformers plugged in will be able to be phased correctly if you wire your layout in a buss fashion.

Ron

Yes

When I moved I had a room built for the train layout. 

I had the electrician run  3, 20 amp circuits and ran them through 3 wall switches  located in a handy spot. One plugs in the train transformers for the loops,one powers 3, 600 watt lighting transformers and one powers the accessory transformers for things like carnival rides. 

What this offers is selection of lighting,used for night display, accessories and the trains themselves. In the event of a problem or simply securing it after a session, the layout can easily be switched off.

Make sure he runs the 3 circuits all from one side of the panel so they are in phase. An electrician should know this anyway since the outlets are together,but it is always good to check their work. The degree of professionalism varies with the licensed electrician used. I had to get them back to correct a bunch of mistakes I found using a simple meter and test devices.

You may also consider a breaker with a surge suppressor,this would eliminate the needs for individual power strips with surge supressors. 

There are some house electricians on the forum here who could probably be of more help.

Dale H

When I built an addition onto my house, I installed a 200 amp panel with plenty of breakers.

I wired up the train room with separate circuits.

1 was for the layout

1 was for the electrical outlets in the room

1 was for the lighting in the room.

This way I knew there was enough power to power up everything and not affect something else.

Overkill, maybe, but at least I knew there was extra power if I ever needed it!

Thank you gentlemen.

Paul

When I built a layout room I put in a number of circuits with switches and pilot lights by the door.  When I left the room for the night I could be sure that all power was off to the room and never left anything on.  This derived from almost starting a fire when I walked away from the train workbenck and the leads on the test transformer shorted out.    The breaker cycled on and off and caught the insulation on fire.  Walked back into the room just in time.

I set up seperate circuits for transformers to run the streetlights, switches and building lights and another for the transformers to power the track.  That Way I could have the lights on while working in the room without accidently powering any track. 

Also, spaced outlets around the room for the light circuits, so I could put lots of small transformers around the room for local light wiring.

It all worked out really well, except the guy who bought my house did not know what to make of it.

Bill

I agree with spaced outlets around the room, but should have doubled those, adding them down the middle and on end walls...also put in big overhead flourescents, and should have doubled (or more) those...

Another thing to consider if using switches to turn off all power to your layout, use a double pole single throw switch, so that both the hot and nuetral wires will be shut off at the same time. 120 volt AC voltage alternates and you should have total protection in case of a thunderstorn in your area.

A little extra protection never hurts.

Lee Fritz

Neutral is neutral all the time, you don't have to switch it.  For 110V, the National Electrical Code and any local codes I've ever seen don't specify switching the neutral line.  The neutral like is returned to earth ground at the service entrance.  It's at the same potential as the ground pin, assuming the wiring is all intact.

As per the current UL 1449 Third edition  (SPD - Surge Protection Device)

Type 2 SPDs: Typically service entrance SPD panels or branch circuit SPD panels that are connected on the load side of the service disconnect over current device (main service panel).

Type 3 SPDs: Typically surge receptacles or cord connected point-of-use devices.  They are permitted to be installed anywhere on the load side of a branch circuit up to the equipment served, provided the connection is a minimum of 10m (30ft.) from the service panel. Note: If the distance is less than 10m, a Type 2 SPD (or a Type 3 SPD tested to Type 2 requirements) must be used.

Levition Brochure 

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML...E&minisite=10251

This brochure give a very good description and background of surge protection.

I purchased a Square D for my service entrance.

Depending on your soil type your ground rod at the service entrance may need to be longer/deeper from the minimum code requirements.

Hope this helps,

Dan

I know it seems that a electrician should understand that when you request that all the circuits come off the same leg, but mine just couldn't get it, I believe he thought phasing was BS.  Just be certain they really do understand what you want..  It might not be obvious that you need a separate neutral for each circuit.  You shouldn't use a common ground for 2 circuits off the same leg like you might for different legs. It would seem tempting if using 3 wire Romex of #12 or #14 that was to be used when you use both legs.  I live in a very rural area and that may have been part of the issues.  

We use 4 separate circuits for the trains alone.  General lighting, special lighting, shop tools and overhead fans are all additional circuits.  It may sound like overkill but all wiring for trains were taken to junction boxes around the perimeter of the layout, 20'x44'x20'.  You can plug into any of the 4 circuits off the 4 ganged duplexs in each box around the perimeter.  All circuits are switched at the entrance door.  Lighting will be completely controlled by SmartHome switches and rheostats, which can be remotely controlled from anywhere, when we are done.  If you have any question email.

Buzz

"Make sure he runs the 3 circuits all from one side of the panel so they are in phase."

No, be sure that he does NOT run them all from the same side of the panel, because he might power them from successive circuit breaker slots, and that will ensure that they are from DIFFERENT phases. The phase legs in standard 240-volt panels alternate as the breakers are installed from top to bottom, to ensure that both phase legs get used evenly.

Be sure that he, simply put, runs them all from the "same phase leg"...period. If he doesn't know how to do it, get a different electrician.

My electrician put all of my layout outlets on the same leg but it has become a moot point since I put all of my transformers on one cart and they all plug into a heavy duty power strip which plugs into a single wall outlet.