RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion
Getting ready to install power wiring on the layout
faithie999:
Alan--thanks for your advice and the portion of your layout that you posted. I will do some more planning. I will have a turntable with a small yard, and a larger yard in a different area. I will start with two branch lines off the main, each will serve a few businesses.
at the moment I'm deciding which layout software to use, and then learn. I have read up on the one you recommended, which looks to have a bit of a steep learning curve, and a package called Empire Express, which may not be as advanced as xtrkcad but is a bit easier to learn.
Yes, I ordered the breakers, as well as additional gear, from Bill. His prices are great, not to mention free shipping!!
Ken
Alan:
Be aware the CB-1 accepts a maximum 16AWG. Your bus is 12AWG. Won't fit.
To remedy this simply solder very short lengths of 16AWG onto your 12AWG. The voltage drop in the system due to the sections of 16AWG will be so low that it is of no consequence. You will need 12AWG to 16AWG going into the CB-1 and 16AWG to 12AWG coming out for a total of 4 shorts pieces of 16AWG per CB-1.
I have a similar arrangement on my layout with amp meters. The amp meters are supplied with 18AWG leads. My bus is 12AWG like yours. To keep this from being a problem I cut the meter wires as short as possible. Ended up with a length of about 4". Let's do the math for the voltage drop shall we? Better yet, let's use an online calculator to make it easier. https://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html
Assuming the railroad is: 15v, 100' total bus length, 0.5 amp load at far end of bus (1 loco at wheel spin).
100' run of 12AWG = 14.84v at loco (15v - 0.16v)
99.6' run of 12AWG + .4' run of 18AWG = 14.837v at loco (15v - 0.16v - 0.0026v)
As you can see there is no practical impact from using the short pieces of smaller gauge wire. What's 0.003v amongst friends anyway. ;)
My arrangement has 3 separate buses - track (org/wht), accessory (grn/wht), and control (blu/wht). That's why there is 3 of everything in the photos. I love easy removability so I used barrier strips instead of directly soldering the meters' 18AWG to my buses' 12AWG.
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faithie999:
Alan--thanks for that tip.
ken
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