Input on lionel sc2

I have 2 sc2's controlling my switches and frankly they seem to respond better to my Legacy than my Cab1 TMCC. I think you should set the voltage at 14 volts and you will be fine.

Thanks captincog! I was thinking of having a dedicated power supply bus connected together and run under each module to tap into the sc2. Then have the accessories on that module connected up to the sc2. This way there is only two wires between modules for this function on the layout.

The SC-2 can be a little finicky about receiving the wireless signal.  I had issues but then looped an earth ground wire around the SC-2.  Now it is 100% reliable.

I forgot to mention this layout I am working on. Two of the sections are going to be used at train shows. They are going to be in the middle of the overall layout when it is done. They make up a small layout with 036 curves that is 6' by12'. They can be taken down and brought to train shows if I choose too.Should I have any concerns in a show environment about the sc2's signal?In that environment I would need 100% all of the time.

As the previous post suggested, if you bring a ground (not common) wire out to the SC2 and just wrap it around it, it should give it plenty of signal strength in any environment.

Location is important for recieving the wireless signal.   It seems to  work fine under the layout as pictured.

What would be the best way to run a

Sorry I hit the wrong button! My next question would be. What is the best way to run an earth ground wire on a modular set up? Would an earth ground bus wire going from section to section be ok. Can it run along side the two wires for the power input hot and common for the sc2? Also in a show environment where would I get the earth ground signal? At the outlet on a three prong plug.

Providing the ground is good, the 3rd prong is a good place to tap off.  Running the ground wire I try to keep it a few inches from the power bus, but I've seen it bundled in with it and still work.

Connection to a metalic water system if correctly bonded would also be a good source of earth ground.

Well, yes, but where's one to find a water pipe when you're in the middle of a display hall!

Thanks john! With the fasttrack tmcc switches and the sc2's for acc control this will surly simplify the amount of wiring between moduls. I also plan to mount the lionel control boxes on the layout edge on top for those times when just hitting the button will be easier. I want my layout to be some what like those by tw designs. All movable and can be reset up in a new location if need be. The cost of tearing down a finished layout is to much these days. If and when I move I want to be able to take off the buildings and accessories and move it with me. The layout I am working on now is going to be in the center and added to my bigger layout some day when space permits me to add on.This section will also allow me a small town station and two track loops with sidings to take to shows. I plan on showing others how easy it is to do and to show off the legacy operation to non train people. Maybe they will get the train bug and want to build a small layout like mine some day!

My sc2s were very iffy until I ran a common U connection from the track supply to the sc2 u terminals. I interpreted the U terminal to be the bottom top terminal looking at the sc2.

The SC2 is just like any other TMCC device, it requires a track common for one half of the TMCC signal.

 

Incidentally, track common should go to the top aux power terminal.

Oh, my mistake. I remembered wrong, I just looked and I did use  the top terminal as U. Thanks John.

Good thing, I don't know how well the other one would work.

For a modular layout, I would suggest tapping onto Pin 5 of the 9-pin serial connector to get the "earth ground" signal straight from the horse's mouth.  I would separate the earth ground and common wires.  I am finding that too much capacitance between Common and earth ground will overload the Track signal output circuit.

 

I've been trying to convince some folks that we should separate the common and earth ground wires in our modular layout, hopefully it won't be an issue going forward.

Another point of interest is something termed "hot neutrals" We would like to think neutrals and grounds to be a 0 volts.  Unfortunately in the real world this isn't always the case. 

Four footed animals (cows) that usually stand in a fair amount of do-do are really sensitive to this. I have measured as much as 5 volts from an outside water faucet to the other VOM probe simply stuck in the ground(dirt), and the problem can be difficult to trace and find.   Establishing a good earth ground requires at least two 1/2" X 8ft  copper clad ground rods driven at least 6 ft apart, and sometimes that isn't so great.  Metalic water systems can be a good source of ground but by code would be bonded to the electrical system, (i.e. not seperate). Creating a good isolate model train ground could be problematic.