Electrical for train room

Bobby Cox,

   I am in the process of building my Train Room/Bar right now, the builders were quite generous with the outlets and I am sure glad.  I have 4 outlets on every wall in my new 29x18 Train Room/Bar.  All on 3 different circuits, with 20 Amp Breakers, and everything is working perfectly.  Also consider using the long plug bars from Harbor Freight, for $23.00 you get a lot of working outlets for your platform houses, and your power station.  

PCRR/Dave

I am running my 20' X 16' layout with one switch controlled outlet. MRC Pure Power Dual, Lionel type V for switches and accessories that require different voltages, and a  PC power supply for relays and buildings (over 20 so far). I can run four long trains easily with DCS.  I would have liked to have an outlet in the floor just so I wouldn't have a cord from the outlet to the layout. It is essentially a 7' wide U shape so I have access up the middle and around the outside. 110 volts translates to a lot of amps at 18 volts.

Since this is a building separate from the house - I would install at least two separate 20amp circuits.  Are there trees near this building?  If so, do yourself a big favor and have a master disconnect switch installed near the entrance door to the building.  The reason for this is if lightning strikes the trees, and you leave your trains/accessories plugged in, they can get fried.  Throw the master disconnect when you leave the building.

bruce

My HO friends have started using 3 normal light switches (one for +, one for - and one for the ground wire) so to break all 3 wires of the 120 volt electric power to their HO transformers/DDC controls.  The ideal is to keep lightning from getting  to the transformers/controls.     I only use 3 power surgers between my 120v powerplug and the TMCC transformers/controlers.

My train building has pine trees on 2 sides and one elm tree on other side plus metal roof and a tall railroad crossbuck, lightning has not got my trains BUT has got the motors in the A/C unit both inside and outside motors in the last 12 years (A/C motors are like purchasing 2 new Lionel ZW-L's at a time.)

As an electrician, I wired my Run Room according to code after designing my track layout.  Three 15 amp duplex receptacle circuits (bottom socket wall switched) furnish more than enough layout power.  Three 15 amp overhead lighting circuits are required.  Two of the 15 amp duplex receptacle circuits were set up on each side of the main control area where the transformers are located.

Code Info:  Receptacles shall be installed so that no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 1.8 m (6 ft) from a receptacle outlet.

8 duplex receptacles per 15 amp breaker.  Bottom of my outlets are wall switched.

Your building electrician will calculate the building service requirements.

My Run Room receptacle plan:

What Susan says.

Let me add one caviat: BE SURE your electrician wires all your receptacle circuits on the SAME leg!!! That way, if you have more than one transformer plugged into different outlets, you will be able to phase them. Otherwise its a real nightmare!

BTW, the light circuits can be on different legs w/o issue.

Chris

LVHR

Another electrician here. I agree with @Susan Deats above. If you bring a separate service to the building and install a panel, add TVSS (Transient voltage surge suppression) modules to the panel. Will help with spikes, etc.

Don't forget about the operators too. If you are planning on using tablets/ phones as controllers make sure you have some outlets in convenient spots to charge the devices while in use.

You do realize code sets minimum 

You can never have too many receptacles.  Just be sure that if you need to use them all, you don't put them all on one breaker.  Also, switching the receptacles is a good idea.  Circuit breakers are no meant to be on/off switches.  

Lighting a model train layout room can be made easier with track lighting.  You never know where light will be needed until you are building your layout.  Even with good planning, something always seems to get changed.  Spend some extra money and go with LED lights.  They are fast becoming widely available.

CBS072 posted:

My HO friends have started using 3 normal light switches (one for +, one for - and one for the ground wire) so to break all 3 wires of the 120 volt electric power to their HO transformers/DDC controls.  The ideal is to keep lightning from getting  to the transformers/controls.     I only use 3 power surgers between my 120v powerplug and the TMCC transformers/controlers.

My train building has pine trees on 2 sides and one elm tree on other side plus metal roof and a tall railroad crossbuck, lightning has not got my trains BUT has got the motors in the A/C unit both inside and outside motors in the last 12 years (A/C motors are like purchasing 2 new Lionel ZW-L's at a time.)

Three separate switches for hot, neutral and ground?

Is that allowed by code? Is that safe?

C W Burfle posted:

CBS072 posted:

My HO friends have started using 3 normal light switches (one for +, one for - and one for the ground wire) so to break all 3 wires of the 120 volt electric power to their HO transformers/DDC controls.  The ideal is to keep lightning from getting  to the transformers/controls.     I only use 3 power surgers between my 120v powerplug and the TMCC transformers/controlers.

My train building has pine trees on 2 sides and one elm tree on other side plus metal roof and a tall railroad crossbuck, lightning has not got my trains BUT has got the motors in the A/C unit both inside and outside motors in the last 12 years (A/C motors are like purchasing 2 new Lionel ZW-L's at a time.)

Three separate switches for hot, neutral and ground?

Is that allowed by code? Is that safe?

NO ITS NOT!

The code prohibits switching a neutral when the hot leg could still be powered. Safest solution would be a double pole switch that disconnects both legs simultaneously. Personally I don't think switching the neutral and ground are necessary at all. The ground switch leaves the potential for problems similar to the neutral too.

Bob