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DCC select question???


DMU mad

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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