Ron Solly

There would be a lot of "modellers" who not know how 00 scale came about and thus don't care about this stuffed up scale vs gauge hiccup. Yes we are stuck with it but if UK outline came out in 3.5mm / foot instead of 4mm / foot, I for one would have gone that way - I doubt that modellers are happy with the 00 scale. I guess the only advantage of 00 is that rolling stock especially locos look almost the same size as USA/Australian locos. Yews I am aware of the attempt to have RTR UK in H0 and failed - I guess because "modellers" were too ingrained to change over.

Templot - a track design program from the UK http://www.templot.com/

That is good. Any chance we here on RMweb can get to read it - I assume you have something written out so the memory doesn't fail you at the wrong time.

I agree Kevin, takes some reading... I found this helpful https://www.amazon.com/How-Wire-Your-Model-Railroad/dp/0890245118 sadly I passed my copy on and and never got it back Outside of this http://brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical.html this is another interesting site http://www.building-your-model-railroad.com/model-railroad-wiring.html and one from UK http://urlibrary.co/download/how-to-wire-your-model-railroad.pdf so much info on the internet...

a method used by the late Rev Edward Beal on his famous West Midland railway in the 1940-1950's combined with Cab Control

Common return; common ground, the various names mean the same thing - a common wire or equivalent used for various power supplies. Yes electronics may get affected - the hobby is so experimental that we learn things each day and by exposing what to some modellers is new info , can only be for the better for most of us. Yes there are some who don't want to try out new practices. DC cab control is one practice which to me is perfect for multiple controllers & operators even though I have converted to DCC for a far simpler operating process. My main station can have 4 trains/4 operators on the move at the same time and I would not like to do this in DC. Google dc cab control wiring and you will find thousands of web pages with info about it. To me. don't knock it until you try it

Interesting - I started using cab control when I got involved in the hobby back in 1957 - I do know one local modeller who uses the old method because he doesn't want to spend time learning new methods.

Another option is to use these in conjunction with solenoid coils. http://www.heathcote-electronics.co.uk/point-indicator.html#POINT-INDICATOR-RELAY

I switch two solenoids at the same time ; nominal 15vAC and 4700UF works well even with accessory switches on the solenoids. I do make sure that there is nothing binding in the tiebar or solenoids.

A question - does each solenoid work by itself each time you operate the switch? and I also assume the switch is a momentary non-locking switch?

And you can always read this site http://brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical.html

Then you are slightly wrong in that DCC does require track reversing switches for reverse loops. DCC Dual Frog Juicer and Auto-Reverser for example http://www.litchfieldstation.net/product/dcc-dual-frog-juicer-and-auto-reverser/ http://tamvalleydepot.com/support/frogjuicerinfo.html but then of course the OP is a DC modeller....

now I have said enough about common return so that is now dead as far as I am concerned but back to the OP, I thought modellers in the UK over the last many years, had sections that could be isolated and switched to any controller - that is Cab Control and was not aware the old idea of one controller per track and synchronising controllers when running trains from one track to another, was still in use.

er... with cab control. it is NOT normal to transfer control of a train from one controller to another - it is the process of that cab controlling the train over the entire layout so that one driver has full control of the train in its operation. Common return is used outside of our hobby without problems and I like many with DC or DCC, use that concept without any hiccups. My common return is used not only for track connections but other power suppliers. 12v DC for LEDs; 15AC for CDU,s;16c DC for Kadee Electromagnets; 40vDC for relays - each with their own transformer - two large bared copper wires ex 240power cable run around\d my 12 x 20ft room as the common return and the other 5 heavy wires for DCC track power, etc to cater for the 5 trains moving around at the same time in a normal operating session. Of course it may have helped me as I was a telephone technician in the exchanges for 25 years. I have the impression that electrics do scare many but don't be scared, read and experiment slowly if in doubt.

Yes thanks Kevin, I don't know what happened with my copy & paste.

Could wire the layout for cab control http://rail.felgall.com/cc.htm which allows any controller to work in any section.

I am sure I did say that for common return, every controller has its own power supply connected as per Fig 3 of http://rail.felgall.com/crw.htm also previously discussed http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/58713-common-return-wire/ And telephone exchanges in the days of magneto, were often one wire with earth return to subscribers. The internal component of telephones exchanges used 50 volts for switching; 24 & 130 volts for valve operated transmission equipment all with the same common return - earth.

It appears that many are concerned about common return (which simplifies wiring) because of possible confusion re power supplies & interconnecting of same. Well. for many years telephone exchanges had 3 voltages 50, 24v & 130v and all three used a common earth/return and also transmitted over single wire earth return was mains power for farms & remote homes and known in Australia as SWER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-wire_earth_return

having been reading all this thread, I am wondering where the concept of more conventional " isolating sections" , form of wiring came from? While I know some UK modellers use that possibly antiquated method, Cab control as used in many parts of the modelling world, was used by the late Rev Edward Beal on his West Midland layout during the 1940-1950's. Even when I stared modelling in 1957, I used cab control straight away.

Ah yes, I should have said in my first post that NCE PowerPro removes layout power when using programming track mode. I hadn't even thought about the starter unit of Powercab. Problems with Yahoo groups - I have been a member a few and never had any problems.

Now while the Powercab may not remove the power from the layout, the NCE Power Pro 5A control system does. I use the Power Pro as I have 5 people operate on my layout so the Powercab would not be viable. Using Power Pro and Programming on Program track, layout voltage is removed and programming track voltage is around 10v

With NCE,once you select Programming on Programming track mode,layout power is removed leaving reduced power on the programming track. I use the programming track when I first install a decoder if I can't find my decoder tester https://www.ncedcc.com/online-store/DTK-Decoder-test-kit-p38322156 I then use Programming on the Main to be able to set speeds especially if trying to have two different locos run at the same speed for double heading/consisting

Interesting... I use common return on my DCC layout with many other power supplies without any problems. I use separate power supplies for each different voltage requirements - currently DCC power plus 7 others.

I guess for those with a small layout and do not want to follow the train around the various stations, then a panel controller like ZTC, etc is probably the way to go BUT if your liking is to follow the train, then NCE/ Lenz is the way. One fixed panel controller would not be ideal for a layout like this http://www.newcastle-modelrail.com/page40.html

Unless the existing power supply used by Ruston has independent secondary windings - one for train control of DC & a second for AC for accessories such as lights, no way would I use the nominal 16Vac Output for circuits requiring over 1 amp whilst running locos as the sudden heavy load can make the loco stutter.