Electrical plan

Mike, I never thought of getting old when I started my layout 35 years. 2 things I would do different. My layout is around 42 inches high. I would go higher at least 8 or 10 inches. I also would bring all my wiring and terminal points right to the layouts edge. Hide it with an easily removable or hinged fascia. No more crawling under the layout looking up at wires going all different directions. Sitting on a rolling chair or stool in the aisle is the way to go. Even if you don’t mind working under the layout. Right where you pile  up supplies or boxes will be the area that requires attention at some point.

Dave that is a great idea! I hate working under the layout on wiring.  But I also don't want it to high.

My quest was to have someone point out where I should put drops, and breaks for blocks.

Seeing you are running DCS. The first thing is probably find the location for the TIU. To the right of your whisker tracks for the turntable could work as it’s centralized for wire runs and is right there as you enter the layout through the lift bridge. Your power supply can go right near it. I’d go under the layout with everything as that will give you a 3 ft. Reach from either side so you are not reaching over them.
I would start with the outer main. The one that’s sort of purple on the plan. I’d follow Barry’s or MTH’s recommended paired wiring. Bring the paired wires back to a terminal strip not far from the TIU. Once that’s laid and wired I would start running trains and testing the track signal. It’s pretty straightforward except for a few turnouts so I don’t see any issues. I would just work my way inward from there laying track and Test, Test and Re Test as you go along. If something comes up it will be easy to diagnose and solve. This way you can figure out how much track you can put on a given channel and still retain a good track signal. I would save your one last channel for the yard on the peninsula.

Hi Dave, that should work ok as I have an outlet against the wall opposite the TT. I will have to figure out blocks and which handle runs what. My last layout one handle ran the main level and the other ran the upper level, don't know if that is the correct method but that what I had!

Mike, handling power on your lift bridges is easily done. But as you start blocking the RR any track just to the left of the lift bridges would have a bit of a run back to the TIU terminal strips. Maybe use some plastic conduit or something and run some wiring up and over the door rather than counter clockwise around most of the layout.

Hi Dave what your saying is easy to do, I just not sure where to put blocks.

It looks like your lift bridge pivots at right around the 6 o clock point looking at the plan and would be a natural break in the center rail on your outer loop. I think you could get by with 4 blocks on your outer loop. With breaks in the rail at 9, 12 and 3 o clock. I’d place your paired feeders sort of in the middle of these blocks. Then run them to your terminal strip. Then test it all out. Once your satisfied the inner loop looks to be close to the same with a few more turnouts involved.
I’m really not that familiar with Scaletrax or how their turnouts are electrically connected as far as the rails giving you a natural break at the center rail. If you aren’t in need of an isolated outside rail for signals or grade crossings. I’d jumper the outside rails in each block  There is no pin to remove to insulate sections. But I’m sure there is a way and I suppose you could always just Dremel cut the rail.

My layout is all 3 foot flex Gargraves. Every section wired with very long blocks. Common ground buss wiring. I used mostly turnouts to create blocks if they were in a convient spot. Way before DCS. Layout runs perfectly with a wiring pattern that’s not suppose to yield good results.

Thanks Dave I will try and draw something up on my scarm file this week and post it for you to see.

Mike, I made a new power block for every track segment between two switches.  That ended up being a lot, but I can switch any of them off or on, so an engine can be parked anywhere with no power.  It should aid in troubleshooting as well, though I have not had to put that to the test.

Mike

I run with Lionel Tmcc and Legacy no DCC.  The changes I would make in retrospect is to put all of my tortoise switch machines along the edges of the layout and use Wago lever locks for all my electrical connections instead of wire nuts especially for some of the very small wires.  The lever locks are easy to use,  much easier to group a bunch of wires and to trace a problem if one occurs.

Marty

I would suggest that you get some tags/labels and mark them up as you proceed. It can also be helpful to label them in various places along their run. At least you’ll have an organized spaghetti factory. Mark it up on paper too.

Jay