Question about terminal tracks / power adapter

Whats the typical length of track that one terminal (Tomy AFX with standard power adapter) can supply power too?

I know you can have seperate terminal tracks for each lane, but is it possible to have more then one on the same lane if the layout is long in lenght?

Any ideas on recommended set ups for this?



Cheers,
Nick.

its not so much the length,its the resistance you get with the connections on the track not being 100%,I found the best option was to add other power links as you go along your track,ie I had cable connecting about every 5 pieces of track,so you can have a good source of power at any point in your track,I never tried adding more wallwarts,in fact the best power units I used on my track was a couple of car batteries,12 volts but massive amps,you could even use a 12volt and a 6 volt in series to have 18 volts,watch them cars go like shit off a stick with 18 volts,if younger kids are around you can always take off the 12 volt and let the little kids run 6 volts,my track was around 40m x 4 lanes long and lights and all sorts all running off car batteries,but remember to takes batteries out of room when charging and ALWAYS use a fuse as safety

Hi Nick, welcome.

If you have a look at the power section on this website http://www.hoslotcarracing.com it should tell you all you need to know.

In summary though, you should apply power every 15-17 joins in the track, at the moment I'm running a power into my track every 26 joins, and I'll probably bring that down some next time it's apart.

It can be a bit of work to set it up right, but it's worth it. I'm still in the process myself. Rather than using propriatory terminal tracks, you need to get out the old soldering iron. I'll upload some photos of my power tracks tomorrow.

The theory behind it is (assuming you don't know), +ve voltage (eg 16v dc)runs into the variable resistor in the controller, and then into the track (assuming trigger full on still 16v dc). Think of the track as a big old resistor in a loop, as you get further away from the power input, the voltage drops, so with one input half way around the track you have the lowest voltage (eg 12v dc). If you apply power to 2 places around the track you have halved the size of the resistor (track) and therefor proportionally decreased the voltage drop (at 1/4 way around the track, now the furthest point from power input the voltage would be more like 14v dc). The biggest resistance occurs in the contacts, rather than the track rails themselves, so one option is soldering all the track joins. Not so fun.

Hope this helps, it does require a bit of work, but I'm well on the way myself so I can help you out.

Fair call Grant, I didn't think about doing it that way when I set mine up.

On second thoughts Preemo,

One could use the AFX terminal tracks to supply power at multiple points. And it would be easier too. I've used std 15" straights, and soldered directly to the rails of the track, but if you used terminal tracks you could pop off the bottom plastic where the plugs go, and solder directly to the terminals. this would allow you to use the standard power packs, and controllers without having to cut the plugs off them, you would also be able to control the lane from different positions around the track.

Like I said photos to come of my power tracks.

Snuffytech (Pete) and Pukekohe (Grant) - thanks for the responses about power.
I checked out the hoslotracing website and they have some interesting ideas for terminal tracks. Quite a cool site that one.

I'm still a few weeks away from setting my layout (actually I still need to buy the majority of my tracks!).
No doubt i'll have more questions then.

Snuffytech - yeah man post some photos when you get a chance.

nice one,
Nick.

all very quite this weekend perhaps all gone on vacation for queens birthday,not ME,wallpapering the fucking lounge(ooopps bad word)

yeah im not far behind ya Grant! ive been sanding windows, picture rails, walls and skirting getting ready for papering and painting! whips been getting cracked around here too forsure!

Starsky and Hutch custom maybe???????????

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Sl ... 079621.htm

Have that on watch, but just spent $60 with him already.
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