Layout Wireing

If you're ever considering running DCS command stuff, you need to look at doing star wiring for the power and also following the restrictions of the number of track joints for each power drop.

I do run TMCC now but have no DCS locos and most likely won't get any.

It'll be a lot of rework if you change your mind about DCS later, that's why we mention it.   If you wire for DCS, TMCC will still work fine.  Just so you know.

If you are not concerned about DCS compatibility, the bus solution you suggested is fine.

TrainMan129,

    Guns is giving you great advise, sooner or later you are going to want to run both TMCC/Legacy and DCS, consider his advise gold bond on this subject and do the Star Wiring using the 12 track join discipline as you build, then you can run anything at any time on your layout.  Although you can back wire for DCS, it's a lot more work.  I run both TMCC/Legacy & DCS on my multi level Christmas layout, wired correctly all engines run like a dream.

PCRR/Dave

I'll third the option for wiring from the start with this so called 'star pattern' wiring, as it will save you a lot of headache later on if you ever do want to run DCS.  On the other hand, if you don't give a hoot about DCS and never will, any sort of wiring system that makes you happy will work just fine for conventional, Tmcc, Legacy, LionChief and Bluetooth control as long as you have enough feeders such that track voltage won't drop on you.  

JGL

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

TrainMan129,

    Guns is giving you great advise, sooner or later you are going to want to run both TMCC/Legacy and DCS, consider his advise gold bond on this subject and do the Star Wiring using the 12 track join discipline as you build, then you can run anything at any time on your layout.  Although you can back wire for DCS, it's a lot more work.  I run both TMCC/Legacy & DCS on my multi level Christmas layout, wired correctly all engines run like a dream.

PCRR/Dave

I will second this, Guns has given you the best advice here.  Never say never.  Star Wiring IMHO is no more difficult than anything else and it will allow you to run anything.  I too run TMCC/Legacy and DCS on my layout with 0 issues.

Tony

OK, lets see if I have the right idea here. I run a pair of wires from my source to one or more terminal strips around the layout. Then I run pairs to the tracks every 4 - 6 feet. I'm using G G flex track so there aren't a lot of track joints. Number 12 or 14 wire to the strips then 16 or 18 to the tracks. Comments?

The Op has been on this forum from 2003 and says he does not have any DCS engines and probably will not. So why bother with star wiring.

Wire a big buss wire and a big common and make drops every 4 to 6  feet like he originally suggested.

F&G RY posted:

The Op has been on this forum from 2003 and says he does not have any DCS engines and probably will not. So why bother with star wiring.

Wire a big buss wire and a big common and make drops every 4 to 6  feet like he originally suggested.

This is a valid point for the OP.  I do think the suggestions to other wiring methods are valid as well, however, for two reasons.  First it isn't really any more difficult to do the star method anyway.  Second, A lot of folk get their information simple by reading previous posts and never ask a question on the forum.  I regularly browsed the forum and searched it's topics for years before I even bothered to join.  because of this, on such a broad topic such as "how do I wire my new layout"  it is good to have folks give answers that will work for other people as well.  

That said, I agree, if DCS will never be used, do whatever is easiest, or cleanest looking, or whatever you like.  Legacy/TMCC/Conventional/LionChief/Bluetooth systems will run on any wiring system you can think of.  

JGL

Hi All, can someone explain what Star wiring is? Thanks for the information in advance.

mike g. posted:

Hi All, can someone explain what Star wiring is? Thanks for the information in advance.

I'm sure it is explained with much better detail and wording in the third party book on DCS that is so often cited, referenced and hustled on the forums, but basically, it is wiring where you track is isolated every 12 track joints or less, and each section gets only one feeder run from a center point.  This is done because the DCS signal  overlaps with it's self making DCS engines have issues reading the signal when it comes to a stretch of track from more than one supply.  

JGL

Simply stated, star wiring is defined as running all drops from a center point that goes back to the transformer.

DCS wiring, in addition, requires that each of the drops is isolated from the others by cutting the center rail between drops.  It keeps the DCS signal to each block (which is on the center rail) from interfering with the signal from the adjacent block.

Like JGL said,

Ed