What is the best way to connect wiring for DCC? I am new to Model RR. Am building an N scale layout. Had an MRC Command 2000 given to me. Not sure how to connect unit to get best electrical performance. Was sugested that I run to heavy gauge wires around perimeter of layout with terminals to hook feeder wires to every few feet. Does this make sense to anyone. As I have no documentation with MRC unit I am not sure where to go from here.

Any help would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks. Chuck Conner

-- Chuck Conner (MrCWC@aol.com), November 04, 1998

Answers

Chuck,

Welcome aboard. Starting out can be rather daunting. Using a heavy gage wire around and connecting smaller feeders will be a much better way of distributing power. The smaller pike (say less than 60 - 80 feet of track) can get by with a AWG of 16 or even 18 as a 'bus' wiring. (You should use an AWG of 20 or 22 - NOT 24 for the rails connection). AWG 24 (typical telephone wire now days) has some limits during a short that would be a potential fire hazzard. As you expand, you can add and enhance to the expansion latter. The best form of really good advice for DCC wiring is found at:

http://members.aol.com/wire4dcc/homepage.htm

Be sure and follow through all the links - print out a lot of the information. There are alternative ways of doing some stuff with all the different advantages and dis-advantatges clearly discussed at the wire4dcc site. This is better than ANY systems instructional manual. -ed mccamey-

-- Ed McCamey (emccamey@cheerful.com), November 09, 1998.