DMU mad Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Does anybody know if you can use the Hornby select controller to power 2 tracks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 The Select can power many tracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iggle-piggle Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Dont worry about how many tracks it supports think about the number of locos (3 on a reasonabke size layout with the standard power supply. However for more or if you have quite a bit of track (as in my case) just buy the bigger 4 amp power supply that comes with the elite. You can get these on the net and they are great. They have a better length of lead too so thats an improvement al around. I have select and I am happy with what it does. I go the larger power supply and I am runing 3 ovals on a 6foot by 8 foot layout with loads of points and 2 points decoder modules and 4 locos at a time. It works just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMU mad Posted June 18, 2011 Author Share Posted June 18, 2011 So i'm already running 1 track using the select, so if i get the 4 amp power supply and the leads to run another track, that would work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 It has nothing whatsoever to do with how many tracks you have. You could have 20 or thirty tracks wired to the Select without problems.It is all about how many locomotives you have on the tracks. The Select with the 1 amp Power Supply can, according to the Hornby website, run up to 3 locomotives at a time. With the 4 amp Power Supply it can run up to 10 locomotives at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMU mad Posted June 18, 2011 Author Share Posted June 18, 2011 So, let me get this straight, I have 1 select with a 1 amp power supply and 1 lead to track 1. I can keep the 1 amp power supply and all I would need is the wire to the 2nd track to control a loco on that one aswell as the 1st track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Yes, that's the idea.If your tracks are connected by points then if you use the Hornby point clips you won't even need to wire the second track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brightstar Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Hi DMUmad,You need to have the 4 amp transformer connected to the Select controller and all sets off track connected to the controller. This can be by connecting the controller to the power rail on one track and then loop this connection to the power rail on the second track or by bridging the frogs on all points connecting the various sets of track. The reason for this is that without a contiguous circuit the controller cannot send digital signals to locomotives on the layout.Connecting a transformer to each track, without the interconnection will not work.The 4 amp transformer will allow you to control up to 10 locos with the select.You should also ensure that any additional power points supply power and signal to the same contiguous track, black wire with white stripe to outer rail and black wire to the inner rail, otherwise there will be a short circuit.In addition if you find that the trains do not respond to signals as they get further away from the power point you need to insert a power point at this further point by connecting one power point to another, thereby providing a power bus for the signals from the controller. Use at least a 1.0mm squared equipment wire to connect the power points on a moderate sized layoutan larger sizes cables on large layouts to prevent voltage drops.I would personally use 2.5mm equipment wire for the bus and connect the power points with 1.0mm dropper wires connected to the bus. One way to do this is to use ScotchLok connectors, which you can purchase from Halfords. These are IDC connectors(Insulation Displacement Connectors) which you place over the bus wire feed in the appropriate drop wire and squeeze the connector shut with a pair of pliers to make the connection.You can do a google search for "DCC Bus Wiring" to find out more about bus wiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brightstar Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 DMUMad try this link https://www.model-railways-live.co.uk/Features/Category/DCC_Controls_/Wiring_a_DCC_power_bus/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.