DCC Specialties, 57 River Rd, Suite 1023, Essex Jct., VT. 05452 800-671-0641, info@dccspecialties.com www.dccspecialties.com 2 of 10
*Instructions by Don Fiehmann
Why Divide my Layout? (Courtesy of Kalmbach Publications)
Though DCC offers a more realistic type of train control
being able to run multiple locomotives independently
on the same track
the electricity running through the rails of your layout still needs to be properly managed
and distributed. Since one of the big selling points of DCC is that you don’t need to divide your layout into
individual electrical blocks for independent train control, you’re probably asking yourself, “why should I do it?”
In addition to minimizing operating disruptions, power districts are also a key to DCC power regulation. If you’re
running a lot of trains, you’ll need to make sure your DCC system can supply all your power needs efficiently
and safely. Adding power districts to your layout can help with that. By separating your layout into districts, you
divide the total track power available into smaller, more manageable units.
How do I Determine Power Districts?
There are really two types of power districts: those that are circuit-breaker protected zones on the lay out and
those that have their own independent Booster (also breaker protected). Probably the best way to determine
where to place pow er districts is to take a look at the expected current draw, (Traffic), for each operating
location on the layout. For example, a busy yard might have two switchers, one or more trains on the arrival
and departure tracks, another train or two passing the yard on the main, and maybe a peddler working nearby
local industries. If some or all of these trains have more than one locomotiv e, you could have 10 to 15
current-drawing units all competing for power in a fairly small area. Even assuming that the locomotives have
efficient motors, this type of load may be heavy enough to slow down a DCC system running on a common 5A
booster. Generally, our experience has shown that in HO if you have for a 12-14 awg buss and 20 awg
feeders, that a 5 Amp system can support up to 10 0perators. Many users overestimate the amount of Booster
power needed. Try using the PSX Series first, then if your trains start to slow down you may need to add extra
Booster to support the concentration of trains in this location. By dividing a layout into power districts in this
manner, and using a combination of boosters and circuit breakers, you can make the most efficient use of
available power on any mid-size or large-size layout.
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