RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion

Loco stoping

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G8B4Life:
Josh,

Without knowing how big your layout is and how it's wired I can only give a few generic answers.

If you don't have a power bus run under the layout:


* You can run a power bus with associated feeders to the track.
* If your rail joints are not soldered, you can solder them. This is probably the least desirable of the options if used by itself. Assuming nickle silver rail, while it's an ok conductor (not fantastic but ok) it's cross sectional area is not great (meaning it's the equivalent of small diameter wire). Without a power bus, on long runs of rail that rely solely on rail joiners to transfer power from one rail section to the next you may end up with considerable resistance that will cause voltage drop.
If you do have a power bus run under the layout:

* you can install more feeders to the track.
* The power bus may be inadequate in size and need to be beefed up.
- Tim

jjwdadof4:
 Thank you Tim for the tips I do have a bar under the layout that has screws one wire in and one out on the other side my layout is 5x9 with I think 6 drops for power I will also try soldering the jointers

William Brillinger:

--- Quote ---I will also try soldering the jointers
--- End quote ---

Be careful with this as it can cause buckling in the rail as the metal and wood expand and contract at different rates.

As a rule of thumb, it is best to have a feeder to every piece of rail instead of soldering joints.

jjwdadof4:

Be careful with this as it can cause buckling in the rail as the metal and wood expand and contract at different rates.

As a rule of thumb, it is best to have a feeder to every piece of rail instead of soldering joints.
[/quote]


Bill are you saying to add feeders at all the joint connections?

drisdon:
I believe he is recommending, this is an unwritten model railroading recommended practice, to add a feeder wire to every piece of track on your layout.  For a turnout you need feeders on the stock rails and the closure rails, essentially once you add gaps around the frog you need a feeder on each piece of rail that joins the frog and then the two outer rails.  You can also add power to the frog thru the use of a Tortoise and other methods.

Dan Risdon

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