New to Legacy Questions

Answers embedded.

Timpix posted:

HI All,

I'm finally building a layout and it is taking shape nicely.  It is American Flyer (two-rail) and I have conventional post-war locos as well as several FlyerChief and Legacy locos.  The track plan is pretty much settled, next up is basic scenery and wiring.

I have a new Legacy set and have been advised to make two power districts - there are two mainlines and a yard so that is easily accomplished by insulating the crossovers.

I will further block the mainlines, yard tracks and other sidings for conventional control.  Just an on/off SP/DT switch?  Is there a recommended SPDT switch that works better for command layouts?

You just need a switch that can handle the current involved, nothing magic about the exact switch.

Can I use a postwar ZW as my main power source?  Are there better options?

You can use the PW-ZW, but there are better options.  For the ZW, I suggest a modern circuit breaker.  Obviously, some of the newer transformers with electronic circuit protection would be a big step up.

Should I bring all the wires to a single control panel?

Your choice.

Is Legacy really one wire?  Or should it be a bus that goes around layout?  How do I deal with the block wiring?

Legacy is really one wire.  As long as one rail is common throughout the layout, it works fine.  For AF 2-rail use, it's useful to add a .1uf capacitor or two between the rails to insure the TMCC signal from the command base makes it all around..

I'm sure I haven't asked all the questions I should have, I'm open to advice.

 

Thanks in advance.

Tim

HI,  Thanks for the replies!  

Any transformer recommendations?

re the .1uf capacitors - How many and where should they be added?  Every block?  Are they directional?

If I have two completely isolated loops ( good idea?) , does each get a legacy wire?

Thanks again,

Tim

Carl Tuveson said it best and he's an S-gauge guy.  You can read all about his TMCC signal upgrades on his site.  Here's where he discusses the capacitors, he happens to use .15uf caps.  They are bipolar, no polarity.

Enhancing TMCC Signal Distribution for two rail layouts

Legacy is actually two wires, but the other wire is the connection to the ground wire system in your house wiring. That's why it is important to have a three wire plug on the Legacy power supply and a three wire system in your house wiring in the layout room.

I prefer to think of the ground wire in the house wiring as the antenna and the outside rail wire to the legacy base as the return wire. That thinking makes the sometimes required additional ground wire over a track in a tunnel or under an overhead track more obvious.

hI,

Any transformer recommendations?  MRC Dual Power, new ZW w/180, Z4000?

Thanks!

I run strictly command, so I use the Lionel PH-180 bricks, lots of power in a compact package and a great electronic circuit breaker.  If you run conventional and command, the Z4000 is certainly a good choice, as is the MRC AH601 Pure Power Dual.  You can occasionally score the MRC for a really good price.