KINKS! And Thomas...

Quick update on the GNW.  Work continues and making good progress.  Except for trackwork.  I had installed all the track with every other piece of flex track soldered, and a small (1/16"to 1/8") gap between the non-soldered tracks for expansion.  I figured this would be more than enough to accommodate thermal expansion as well as the swell and shrink of the benchwork.  I was wrong!
What was a straight staging yard

SO had to go through essentially all the trackwork and recut new gaps.  Here is a pic that shows how much the benchwork had shrunk over the last few months as the wood dried out.  Keep in mind this is in addition to the gap that was there.

Amazing amount of shrinkage, especially considering this was for at most 10', probably closer to 6' of track.

Took care of maybe 20 or so kinks and all is well now.

With the main loop running, the railroad is seeing more visitors.  Of course, they would like to run a train.  So without further adieu, please help me in welcoming Thomas, along with Annie and Clarabel, the GNW's official host train!





Comments

  1. kwmcbMarch 28, 2019 at 6:20 PM

    Greetings,

    I’m planning my LCC implementation now on a new layout. I would be grateful if you clarify some points for me.

    Did you run all of your track power feeders back to the terminal blocks by your LCC card nodes? Was this done instead of using a bus with track feeders connected directly to the bus with connectors or soldered? If the former, did you have any issues with track power drop off from having long feeders?

    Thanks, Kent

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great Northwestern RailwayMarch 28, 2019 at 8:25 PM

    Hi Kent,

    Yes, ran all the feeders back to TBs by the LCC nodes. A couple reasons:

    - With multiple track feeds within any block (I generally have at least 2 pair; most have 3-4 pair), trying to find a way to measure the current becomes more complicated. It is just easier to measure the current through a CT at the TB rather than at the individual track feeder(s). Besides, how would I do that anyway? Say if I had 2 pair, I'd still have to come off the bus at a single point more or less, and then thread both feeders through a CT.

    - Add to that I had my fill of crawling under the layout. Pulling the feeders and tying to individual bus wires with quick connects is pretty fast and painless. That leaves all the interconnecting and CT wiring where I can easily get to it.

    I have not seen any issues with voltage drops. I probably will get sneers from saying this, but I ran 14AWG from the boosters to the TBs, then 16AWG from the TBs to the blocks; 22 AWG track feeders. I like running 2-3 diesel MU trains and have not had any issues. Think about it this way: 16AWG will have something like 10% voltage drop across 15' at 5A. 5A of locomotives is pretty serious. Say I have 3 units at maybe 1/2A each... so 1.5A across 15' in 16 AWG, my v-drop calculator shows 0.18V drop, or 1.29%. I just don't see the need to put more money into copper if that is all that will happen. Even if I double it, 3A across 15' in 16AWG will have 2.5% v-drop or 0.36V. Like I say, some will say run at least 12AWG or 14 AWG from the boosters, and then use 14AWG for the bus leads. Very nice and robust. I just cannot justify it.

    Regards,

    Detlef

    ReplyDelete
  3. kwmcbMarch 30, 2019 at 7:53 AM

    Greetings Detlef,

    You will have no sneers from me. I like your idea and want to implement something similar. It's reassuring to know it works. I'm at the age where rolling around on the floor is no longer appealing. Your video and website have come at a perfect time. Your research and thorough explanations are fantastic. Please keep sharing your experience and knowledge.

    Thanks,

    Kent McBee

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great Northwestern RailwayMarch 30, 2019 at 5:49 PM

    Will do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kwmcbApril 1, 2019 at 7:18 PM

      I wasn't sure how to reach you privately. May I use a couple of screen grabs from your LCC video for my documentation and in asking some wiring questions to Dick Bronson?

      Delete
    2. Great Northwestern RailwayApril 1, 2019 at 7:28 PM

      Of course. Any time.

      Delete
    3. kwmcbApril 2, 2019 at 6:26 AM

      Thanks kindly.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let’s Configure a Node – The Beauty of LCC (With a bonus section on connecting LCC to PanelPro)

Image
Recall one of the drivers for trying out LCC was to avoid writing detailed code.   Yes, I ~can~ write code.   But it is not my interest or hobby.   As such, anything that can help me translate what is in my head to implementation on a chip somewhere with as little brain damage as possible is quite welcome in my book.   Additionally I did not want the brains of the layout to live in a PC.   There are days when I just want to come down to the basement, flip on the power switch, and run trains.   And… if I am going to go through the trouble of having signals, I want them to come up and operating properly immediately.   Yea, I know I can set up a PC to boot up, execute the right programs and get running on its own.   Sorta.   It’s just one more piece of equipment and step I just don’t care to deal with.        Anyway…. So a big part of my hesitation of leaping into LCC was the angst associated with programming ...
Read more

Configuring Push-buttons for Turnout Control in LCC (with BONUS section on Adapting JMRI for Feedback)

Image
So ALL the efforts, costs, brain damage and such to get LCC integrated into the layout is paying off in this one new step.  Let me explain. With LCC, each node is essentially its very own stand-alone microprocessor, capable of processing commands INDEPENDENTLY of a central PC or other server.  It just is connected to at the CAN bus, either looking for commands to respond (consumer) to or to issue them (producer).  SO... this addresses one of the goals of integrating LCC into my layout.  Sometimes I like to come down into the layout room and just run trains.  I don't have others with me, and for me, its a great way to unwind.  When I do that, I don't want to have to futz with turning on a PC and getting it going.  Ya, I know, some say it is not that big of a deal.  But if I am only going to be there for 5 or 15 minutes, seems like a hassle to mess with that.  I just want to through the power switch on, have the layout come to life, and run s...
Read more

LCC and Wiring Continues

Image
Slower than desired, but better to do it right now than try to fiddle it in later.... In my last staging yard, I never did install feeders.  Instead I just counted on the continuity of the turnouts to carry power to each of the 16 staging tracks.  Bad idea.  ~Most~ stayed powered up over the 10 or so years it operated.  ~Some~ randomly dropped out... necessitating fishing and soldering wires onto tracks with 7" spacing between decks.  Not uber-fun at all. SO... with GNW Phase 3, I promised myself ALL track would have feeders every 6' (one feeder per 2 sticks of flex), plus additional feeders in any other complex areas such as yard throats.  This would also allow me to have every other stick of flex not have to be soldered at the track jointers, allowing for expansion and contraction of the benchwork.  BUT... this comes at a cost.  Instead of 16 single ended tracks, I elected to have a 9-track staging yard, each track capable of holding 3 tra...
Read more