Rules
- Cables, parallel to the track, at least with 0.75 mm² cross section.
- No electronic devices in the track's electric system at all, except boosters and vehicle detectors.
- No automatic train control (ergo, no train stop due to halt signals).
- Do not burden the digital voltage for secondary aim.
- For security reasons: No power supply voltage (230 V AC) at the module.
Recommendations
- Power sources for additional electrical consumer (example: free usable signal modules) provide 12..15 V DC.
- Signals on free usable signal modules get a connection cable of 5 m to it's control box. This is fixed (for example with a c-clamp) at the assigned station.
- For a future vehicle detection one rail of the tracks is divided to a [sufficient] number of registration sections, each of them wired dividable; long sections get it's own parallel cable.
Best Practices and Illustrations
- Parallel cables:
Close leads, ergo, no loops, keep the inductivity small, so that the steep flanks of the digital signal are kept, and interferences stay small.
It is sufficient to connect that cable approximately each 0.5 m with the rails.
Thin blank wires are appropriate as connection with the rail, sold to a blank part of the parallel cable and to the rail's foot (or a rail joiner).- Security:
All power plugs, multiple sockets, transformers etc. belong at a separate clip board (not at the floor because of danger by tapping on it); transformers, at least in order the waste head does not damage the module.
No electronically devices, which alter the digital signal, must be added in the power supply of the tracks, and therefore may interfere the operation. (Does not apply to boosters and proved vehicle detectors.)- No automatic train control:
Stop by "voltage-off" contradict to DCC.
- Digital voltage:
Even, it is a great temptation: The digital voltage is for driving only! All other consumers have to be powered by own electrical sources, in order to avoid an overload of the digital boosters.
- Junctions:
should be build, so that the point rail and stick rail, that belong together, have the same electrical potential. Otherwise bad adjusted pair of wheels (rather cars with long and inflexible frame) may short-circuit.
The frog have to be powered by a double-throw switch, because contacts of the tapering rails, or such, pollute after some time and do not provide safe contact anymore.
