I am working on a large N-scale layout that is expected to be using DCC (probably the Digitrax Chief) and I was wondering if any of you have suggestions as to what may be needed for the size of the layout. How many boosters and where to place them is a concern. It will most likely use the radio throttles. I am adding the website link so the layout can be viewed and the track plan seen. (If you would like to have the layout map emailed for easier viewing let me know. There also may have been updates that are not reflected in the website map.) http://www.homestead.com/CanyonMtNgineers/index.html I hope this works....
First of all, let me recommend that you join the Digitrax egroup at: http://groups.yahoo.com There are over 1800 Digitrax users that belong to this group. The members range from people trying to deside on what to buy to people that are truly experts on Digitrax and everything else DCC. Second, I really like your layout plan. I have a similar sized room but operate in HO. If N wasn't so small I would love to work in that scale. I would strongly agree with your decision to go with radio. That was the best decision I made after selecting DCC and Digitrax. As far as boosters, I just bought my first. I ran out of power trying to run 3 trains with multiple headend power. The number of boosters you will need depends on how many trains you plan to run at one time and what there total power draw is. I am not familiar with N scale loco power requirements. If you are using a 5 amp Chief, start from there and add it up. The location of the boosters is open to many points of view. If you group them all together you will have longer runs of the two buss wires (12awg)to the power district and shorter runs of loconet cabling and ground (12awg) between the command station and the boosters. If you put the boosters out near the power district you will have shorter runs of the buss wires and longer runs of the loconet cabling and the ground. Again, I would recommend you join the Digitrax group for any further help. David
Beg, borrow, or steal, "The Big Book of DCC." This is a must for your club. Ask about, and learn "power districts." Also when addressing your power needs, how many trains do you plan to run, with how many MU'd together. Great layout. If I am ever in Oregon - we go there quite frequently - you'll be getting a call. Question: What is the track to track seperation between you upper and lower deck?
Thank you for the input. Keep it coming. The separation between the upper and lower deck is about 12 inches. That is one reason why the upper deck is narrower than the lower level.
ROMAFERN, no its a general text that covers all the bases. I would suggest , if you are electrically inclined, building your own power supply. Would be lots cheaper. Of course disreguard this if your friends call you 'sparky' ....Mike
To Dave (ncng) I'm not as keen on digitrax egroup as you. I put a post with a question about automatic turnouts with a reversing loop. No one bothered to respond. I do like the layout design sig group there though (ldsg). Secondly, an aside. Building your own power pack (booster) isn't as money savings as you think. I was going to do just that when I found the booster were very close in price. Because I'm in N scale with a maximum of four trains running at once, I know 5 amps will do it. We got the digitrax booster at 5 amps.
