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Track work for MTH DCS HO

JI John in GeorgetownOGR Forum Member

Hello,

I am building my first HO layout.  I will be using DCS engines and the DCS desktop Commander but no TIU or AIU.  Because I used to be a 3 rail O gauge person, I am still trying to adjust my brain to think 2 rail DC.  As I am laying track work, should I install rail insulators controlled by toggle switches for sidings?  My next question, which rail should I install the insulators on?  I believe that they would go on the control rail and the common rail would always be continuous---is that correct?   Having said all that, what is proper selection od the common and control rail---am I correct in thinking that the control rail with insulators should be the closet rail when viewing the track in front of you and the common rail would be on the outside? 

Finally, does it matter which of the two terminals on the DCS commander that the common or control rail connects to?

Thanks so much to anyone who can help. 

Regards,

John

     

Original Post
Dave HikelDave HikelOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERFORUM SPONSOR

Hi John,

John in Georgetown posted:
Because I used to be a 3 rail O gauge person, I am still trying to adjust my brain to think 2 rail DC.  As I am laying track work, should I install rail insulators controlled by toggle switches for sidings?

     

Yes.  Anyplace you might might have wanted to turn off track power in 3-rail you'll probably want toggled in HO as well.  All the same advantages of saving light bulbs, reducing power consumption, and avoiding run-aways apply across all scales, 2-rail or 3-rail.

John in Georgetown posted:
My next question, which rail should I install the insulators on?

     

The best practice in 2-rail, regardless of scale, is to insulate BOTH rails.  Even if you're toggling a siding that will never need to reverse polarity, it's still a good idea to kill power on both rails.  This way it's much less likely that power will ever get jumpered accidentally by a stray piece of metal.  You'll need to use DPST toggle switches, but the cost difference with SPST switches is negligible.

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