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I'm working on wiring a layout in my sons room and wondering what fire/safety concerns there might be.  I was specifically wondering how safe are some of the electrical connections and components might be.  For instance do bridge rectifiers, miller signs converter modules, or exposed leads on leds pose much heat or shorting risks?  The layout is about 18 inches off the ceiling and will have no incandescent bulbs, but a few accessories such as crossing gates and miller signs.  I have no concept of how safe or unsafe lower voltage ac or dc is, so any insight or cautions would be helpful.  Thanks.

 

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After a few "letting the smoke out" incidents and a lot of arc and spark track welding at 15 amp levels, (2 PH 135's wired in parallel). I installed a track circuit fuse system that has maximum 7.5 amp fuse.  Accessories are fused separately at 3 amps. Most noted accessory failure was Atlas switch motors via a stuck momentary push button. Atlas switch motor failure was eventually solved by installing 6924 relay boards that time out after the initial momentary input. The 6924 relay boards are rated at 8 amps, but I found that the 7.5 amp track fuses would still allow board failure so I installed 3 amp fuses on the power routing circuits.  IMO, Modern, high amperage, model trains are not your Grandfathers trains, and may require a little more circuit protection than you think.
Mike CT
(8) track circuit fuses each 7.5 amps

Accessory fuses.

I have pictures of an Atlas switch motor that failed. None have failed since I installed the 6924 relay boards.

6924 relay boards. Note the track circuit fuse above each relay board.

As others have mentioned one switch turns it all off. The receptacle by the power control area is switched by the train room door.
Receptacle lower left is switched.  All 110 volt power, to the layout, is from this receptacle, via a plug strip.

Last edited by Mike CT

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