After a basement flood and demand for more space for our youngest in 2011, I had to tear down one of the legs in my U shaped layout leaving me with an L. One leg is 4X12 and the other is 3X10. There's a yard inside the wider leg and a few sidings and town scene inside the other with a straight bumper-to-bumper trolley line. All "toy train" perspective. I started working on it again last year, but had to stop due to back surgery. This year, I'm back on it and completed the track work last weekend. Now onto power.
I have number of PW transformers for power: 2 RWs, 2 LWs, and a 1033. I also have a 175W TW and a new Williams transformer from a new set, but I'm using the last two for the Christmas layout upstairs. I figure on putting the 90W 1033 on the trolley line. That's the easy part.
My question is on the loops. I'm thinking of putting the 2 RWs in parallel on one loop with the sidings and the 2 LWs in parallel on the other loops with the yard. I'll run one bus line per transformer (4 total) and then a common neutral (if that's the right term) for each transformer to use. I've got drops planned every 5-6'. I recall this working (instead of two bus wires per transformer) if I properly phase the transformers. Sound right?
If that sound right, I've got 4 other questions.
1. Which post (A or U) do I connect to the center rail and which goes to an outer rail?
2. If my 2-transformer-per-loop is right for conventional operation, will this cause a problem for TMCC? My meager electrical skills tell me this increases wattage and amps but not voltage.
3. I recall reading, however, that I should add a diode or something else to protect TMCC engines from potential problems from a PW transformer. What do I need to do?
4. Lastly, what if I want to add powermasters to allow for Cab-1 control of my conventional engines? I've used powermasters on our simple Christmas layout, but not with 2 transformers (and presumably two powermasters) connected in parallel to the same loop. My guess is that powermasters are a no-go with this "power plan" and that I should divide my loops into separate power blocks and go one transformer and one powermaster per block.
Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks!
