I have limited electrical expereince and thus picked up Greenbergs Wiring book as it's a similar size and set-up but have a few questions/comments/concerns regarding wiring my conceptual 6x10 layout attached. There will be 2 loops (upper/lower) and a seperate mining section (Upper Track 2 in red). All switches run off track power, but are K-line so they could be wired to another power source if performance is an issue during testing.
For track power I was told by a LHS owner to wire my layout using a terminal block and have all wires going to lock-on positions 1 & 2 be the SAME length to reduce voltage drop. I assume this was if I ran 2 trains on one loop? I dont plan on running 2 on one loop at a time...Regadless this seems to contradict Greenbergs method of using commons, which I was going to employ.
I was concerned about his use of only 18g wire for his 5x9 layout. I was thinking of 16g common and 18g to the control panel and out to the drops? Maybe stick with 16g? Is 14 overkill for my size?
I was also concerned with his mechanical drop connection where part of the common wire is stripped where a lug is screwed to the drop right into the plywood. Seems like a hazard?? How could this connection be made safer?
Regarding power I have a PW ZW to power the 2 loops with coal elevator, icing station, log loader and sawmill on circut 3 and the animated scenes on 4. I have a CW-80 to run the mining line with its accessory post powering the lights and bubble tower.
Any comments or questions would be appricated, thanks.
