How To Wire Up 2 Train Operation On DC

Created on November 17, 2010 using FlipShare. Keep in Mind if you don't wire this plan up right you can DESTROYING OR DAMAGE your engines/power packs. If you wire it up right though you will enjoy two or maybe more (with complex switches / power packs) train operation on DC on one track. This way you can operate model trains with your friends! If you have any questions about this please comment and let me know! Video property of metraF40PH163.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HO scale
• DC wireing
• model train wiring
• Block wiring
• Atlas
• MRC
• Proto 2000 NYC GP30
• Walthers BN GP9m
• HO Scale wiring

[pburr917]

Hey great video! I used to have a controller like that one but it broke so right now I'm currently using the exact smaller one you have in your video however I am having troubles with it. For some reason when I simply go to wire it DC in/out it doesn't run but when i wire ac/dc on that controller it runs but on the same speed. I know somethings wrong but I cant figure out what. What size wire are you using. If you could get back to me it would be greatly appreciated!

[metraF40PH163]

@pburr917 Thanks, you should NEVER operate a train on AC power. you will deamage your engines. Double check your wireing. Most wire size works well

[chloe7829]

A better system is Minitrix EMS system, whereby you can run two trains on one track without blocks, or you can run four trains with catenaries. For each engine you need a powerpack, in the case of two trains a DC plus an AC pack, one rail is the common rail and the other mixes DC and AC, for four engines one rail is still the common, the other RAIL and the catenary each mix DC and AC.

[metraF40PH163]

@chloe7829 Yea but, this vdeo is just a hot-to video on one way you can run more trains on DC

[jimmyp42002]

The big downside to common rail with both packs sharing that output, is that in the long run you will kill the lifespan on your motors. The club I belong to used to use common rail until we discovered how it affected our equipment, we switched to two-wire DPDT control.

[metraF40PH163]

@jimmyp42002 Yeah, this was just a video showing one way two train operation can be used

[sdtrolleygregory]

Or if you have money for 2 or how every many cheap 5-10 dollar ones you can put a tiny gap in between and do blocks that way.

[metraF40PH163]

@drumkid330 Oh, thanks

[drumkid330]

I thought this was gonna turn out to be a blooper video lol

[metraF40PH163]

@kelly201143 Hi, I'll try to answer your question the best I can. This is really hard to explain over a computer but, first the commen wire (negative -) does not need to go to the atlas switches. It just needs to go on a commen rail (be sure not to switch sides on the track or power pack(s) Yes, hook both postive (+) wires up to the atlas switch cab A top & cab B bottom. The commen rails role is to keep power flowing on one side so 2 switches are not need. PM me if you need more help. Thanks!