Newbie help

We were all newbies at the beginning, so don't feel bad and no pressure. It's always good to ask questions.

IMHO, whether you use bus wires or terminal blocks is a matter of personal preference. Bus wires are just long wires (typically 14 gauge) from each output of your transformer (+ and -) that run underneath your layout and roughly mimicking the shape of your loop and come to an end back near your transformer without connecting to anything. You would then run feeder wires/power drops (16-18 gauge) spaced around your loop every few feet or so from the bus wires to a lock-on. The feeder wires connect to the bus wires using special connectors such as "suitcase" or T-type connectors. You would not want to wire from one lock-on to another. Using this method, power is transmitted to every part of the loop, so that there are no dead spots.

Assuming you have a terminal/distribution block similar to the one pictured below, the alternative method is to wire your transformer directly to the main red and black inputs on the terminal block (using 14 gauge wire) and then run paired 16-18 gauge wires from as many outputs on the terminal block as you need, to your lock-ons spaced around the loop. This method will also provide power to all parts of your layout.

In either case the feeder wires are typically run up from the bus wires or terminal block outputs through small holes drilled in the layout base. 

These terminal blocks come in 12 and 24 output varieties based on the size of your layout.

@FireWrangler63 posted:

I have a ton of extra lock ons.  I also have a few terminal blocks that I bought at the hardware store too.

It sounds like you're all set. Only use lockons where you need them, there is no set rule. If you want to go every 10-12 track joints, that should be plenty.

Use one wire from the transformer to each of your terminal blocks / barrier strips for distributing around the layout.

@FireWrangler63 posted:

I have several 022 switches in place..  ...I have the plugs but where do i connect it to? Do i run the wire from each switch (i have 10 currently, i could add more) back to the transformer?  Do i run the bus line thing again?  Terminal blocks?

You can daisy-chain or home-run(or a combination) the plugs to your accessory voltage. With the KW, you only have a choice of 6v(too little) or 20v(too much) fixed voltages, so if you really are running just one train, use A-U for the train and "B" for the switches, & fine tune lever B for optimum switch performance.

Here is the full 022 manual showing typical Fixed Voltage Plug connections:

Would it be better to just use my cw80 and hook that up to the constant voltage and just use the the kw for track power?

Providing 14v (from a separate transformer for track power) to the switches via the fixed voltage plug-in on switches is an ideal arrangement. Be sure the two transformers are "in phase."

This method provides full throttle track power to locomotives without draw-downs for switches (or accessories) and delivers accurate 14v to the switches.

I used terminal blocks on my layout to distribute 14v to 11 switches (a mix of Lionel and K-line O42 switches) from a separate MTH transformer; primarily because I applied 18v for track voltage from a Lionel 135w "brick" to drive TMCC-equipped locos . Never had a problem.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

@FireWrangler63 posted:

Would it be better to just use my cw80 and hook that up to the constant voltage and just use the the kw for track power?

Just be aware that the 20 bulbs in the 10 switches and controllers will use about 60 watts of the 80 available... and then throwing a switch may send the CW-80 into overload "foldback" mode.