melvin Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 I am just wondering where the recommendation came from regarding the spacing of droppers. I know its said that metal fishplates cant be guaranteed. On my layout there are two mainlines at 14 Ft long, but only one pair of droppers to each, been working fine for over 10 years. So am I lucky or what. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crosland Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Having posted that, you may find your luck just ran out Seriously, we can get away with all sorts of corner cutting. Best practice is just that, the best you can do. Anything less will work, until it doesn't. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ROSSPOP Posted October 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 20, 2020 Any thing will do if your layout/set up never leaves home for others to see. But if you want to guarantee trouble free running of a model railway layout that needs to be moved around for others/paying public to look at, plus trackwork you have taken the trouble to be as realistic looking as possible and not wanting to dig it all up to repair a fault, then droppers to every turnout and track length is the best modelling practice in any scale. Of course there is radio control. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted October 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, ROSSPOP said: Any thing will do if your layout/set up never leaves home for others to see. Particularly if it is in a warm and dry environment. Those of us whose layouts are in less-hospitable surroundings do well to take whatever precautions we can. But, hey, your layout your deal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinofLoxley Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 2 hours ago, melvin said: I am just wondering where the recommendation came from regarding the spacing of droppers. I know its said that metal fishplates cant be guaranteed. On my layout there are two mainlines at 14 Ft long, but only one pair of droppers to each, been working fine for over 10 years. So am I lucky or what. Okay, so 14ft, then 7 feet from the dropper to the track ends, less to the last fishplate. Not a long distance, maybe 3-4 fishplates each side. Risk increases the more you have between the source and the loco. Goes without saying that while there are board layouts such as 8 x 4 where 7' would be typical but equally there are lofts with hundreds of feet. Run one of those from a single dropper, I don't think so Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 1 hour ago, ROSSPOP said: Of course there is radio control. They're only called droppers if they go down - looks like you've got more than enough aerials for your radio control :) 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete the Elaner Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Fixing ballast with watered down adhesive & weathering track are all potential hazards for electrical continuity & you may still have no problem. But adding droppers is easier earlier in the build than having to do troubleshoot it then require it once all the scenery has been added. I had volt drop on an old layout when I only used a single feed & the boards were supported badly, causing them to droop. I was only 14 at the time & have built several layouts since, hopefully improving with each one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
melvin Posted October 21, 2020 Author Share Posted October 21, 2020 Thanks Crosland. If it does it's your fault. . I would add that there is a crossover wired correctly. Also there are two turnouts on each track also wired correctly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyID Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Apart from potential problems at rail-joiners the resistivity of nickel-silver (which has no silver in it) is more than 16 times that of copper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium rab Posted October 22, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 22, 2020 On 20/10/2020 at 17:35, Crosland said: Having posted that, you may find your luck just ran out Seriously, we can get away with all sorts of corner cutting. Best practice is just that, the best you can do. Anything less will work, until it doesn't. Or as my father used to say: Near enough isn't good enough. When it's exact, that's near enough Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveArkley Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 1 hour ago, rab said: Or as my father used to say: Near enough isn't good enough. When it's exact, that's near enough A wise man Mine tought me, buy cheap buy twice Cheers Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free At Last Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 1 hour ago, DaveArkley said: Mine taught me, buy cheap buy twice That is what I did with Bachmann locos before the prices doubled. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted October 22, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 22, 2020 (edited) On 21/10/2020 at 04:47, ROSSPOP said: Any thing will do if your layout/set up never leaves home for others to see. But if you want to guarantee trouble free running of a model railway layout that needs to be moved around for others/paying public to look at, plus trackwork you have taken the trouble to be as realistic looking as possible and not wanting to dig it all up to repair a fault, then droppers to every turnout and track length is the best modelling practice in any scale. Of course there is radio control. Shouldn't the droppers go down? Edited October 22, 2020 by kevinlms Beaten to it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyID Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 4 hours ago, kevinlms said: Shouldn't the droppers go down? Northern or Southern hemisphere? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crosland Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 48 minutes ago, AndyID said: Northern or Southern hemisphere? They would twist the other way "down under". 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crosland Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 5 hours ago, kevinlms said: Shouldn't the droppers go down? When he said "You need some 'uppers' for the late night track laying session" that's not what he meant. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 I would say that metal rail joiners should never be relied on for track continuity. Their purpose in my view is to keep the rails aligned. Rail joiner conductivity does degrade over time with oxidation, dirt, paint and loosening all contributing to that. Best practice is to solder wires to rails on EVERY piece of track and drop them to the DCC buss. John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyID Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 3 hours ago, Crosland said: They would twist the other way "down under". No doubt due to the Corrie-Alice effect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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