remote wired panel to layout combined 'common'

CraftechOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I am making a small suitcase control panel for a portable layout and have a question about the common.

There will be two transformers for running one or both blocks on the layout. The AUX on one of them will also power fastrack switches and small accessories.

Can I use a four pin connector and wiring between the panel and the layout by having three Hots (One for each Transformer and the Aux) and one Common?

For the single Common pin on the connector, I know I can tie the track out Commons of each transformer together, but can I also tie the Aux common to them as well. The transformer with the Aux that will be used is a Z-1000, the other transformer is an inexpensive MRC AC transformer (only the track outputs on will be used when running two independent trains). Most of the time the Z-1000 will power a single loco on both loops and power the switches.

I'll make a drawing if this sounds confusing.

Thanks

John

5/9/221:48 PM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

As long as all the contacts will handle the max power, I don't see an issue combining the commons.

5/9/222:38 PM

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CraftechOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

@gunrunnerjohn posted:
As long as all the contacts will handle the max power, I don't see an issue combining the commons.

The contacts are rated at 5A.

So if the Aux common and Track Common on the Z-1000 are tied internally do you even need to connect a wire to the Aux common common at all ?

John

5/9/223:06 PM

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SteveHOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

@Craftech John, all the power from both transformers would run through the proposed single common in the 4-way connector, exceeding that contacts' 5A rating.

Doing the math: Z1000 (5.5Amps) + MRC (???) > 5.5 Amps.

Maybe when actually running the trains, that much power may or may not actually be generated for very long, but it could. I'd suggest up sizing the connector to at least 10A.

Would also recommend, if you haven't already, choosing a connector that can only be connected in one orientation, so that hots and common don't get inadvertently swapped.

@Craftech posted:
The contacts are rated at 5A.
So if the Aux common and Track Common on the Z-1000 are tied internally do you even need to connect a wire to the Aux common common at all ?
John

You only need one Common connection per transformer with internal Common bridging.

5/9/224:04 PM