Wiring advice needed for DCS for 3 mainline layout

What type of track are you planning to use?  Two rail or Three?  I used FasTrack three rail and the center rail is the hot and the outside rails are ground.  Red goes to Red on the TIU and Black to Black.  Running three separate loops I would suggest three separate colors for each center rail and three separate colors for the outside.  This will help you keep from cross connecting the loops.  Remember to drill holes in the frame work before you put the top on or you will be drilling overhead with the cutting falling in your face.

Using Atlas 3 rail.  I'm planning on using 3 separate colors for each loop, but black for the common outside rails. Not planning to run wire thru framework, but underneath using brackets.  Much less drilling.   

If you want the least amount of problems, the best advice would probably be to get the DCS O Gauge Companion and wire your layout according to the book. I wired mine as close to the books recommendations as I could and it is working really well.

The book will explain the switches, blocking, DCS communications and many other items much better than I could. Lots of good information in there. Much more than is in the manual.

I am using all Atlas-O 3 rail track, switches and switch machines. Switches are powered separately.

Switches:

1.) I was planning on wiring all the legs of my switches using the Atlas 6924 boards, but I did not and they are all working just fine. I have 12 so far.

2.) My sidings and spurs are isolated (center rail only) and I have 20 amp toggle switches on each one with individual power feeds (10 amp switches would be fine, I just happened to like the handles on these and they were all about the same price).

Track:

1.) I used the inside rail as common, same rail on all tracks. Atlas outside rails are isolated from one another. I plan to use the other outside rail for crossing gates, signals, accessories or what ever comes up. I believe DCS uses the center rail.

2.) I have the same rail as common on all loops and sidings and spurs. Loops are isolated on the center rail only between switches on all the crossovers between loops. Each loop is powered by it's own PowerHouse-180 and each loop is on a separate TIU channel.

Layout:

1.) Nothing special is required for reversing loops in 3 rail, power is always on the center rail. Common rail needs to be continuous.

2.) Without a lot of study on my part here, I would probably make the reverse loop one block and the passing siding another block. Toggle switches would be up to you, but it might be nice to be able to park and shut off the siding? Keeps the clock from running up the run time on the MTH engines. If you don't use it, it will still be there just in case.

Mike,

I would be glad to help you plan your wiring.Can you send the RRTrack file for your layout.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the offer.  I've asked my layout designer for a copy of the RR-track file and will forward to you once I receive it.  One bit of info I left off was I'd like to run conventional for 2 older (90's) Lionel loco's I received from a family friend as well as MTH loco's (PS2/3) using DCS. 

Mike

Hi Mike,

My floor area (footprint) is approx. the same yours except I have a gable type of ceiling.  Your layout is very similar to what I am working on.  Your layout has everything I want to try to duplicate a model RR.  May I ask who worked with you on the design.  If you do not mine sharing this info my e-mail is tthompson3@sc.rr.com

I would prefer to let a designer work on this phase.  I like to build.  I have RR-Track v5

Tommy