Unitrack is very reliable, and doesn't usually cause problems. A standard module only has 1 interior rail joint per track. If a module has a lot of short pieces of track the number of rail joints increases quickly-- and those are the places where reliability (and your trains) can falter.
To increase reliability I recommend soldering all track connections on modules. Now, you can argue that soldering makes it difficult to un-build a module. Practically speaking, what are the chances you'll ever do that? If you ever do, you'll probably be able to pop off the entire length of track at once and reuse it-- soldered joints and all.
I've been going back and soldering the track on my existing modules with mixed success-- fresh, un-sceniced track solders very nicely. Unfortunately, once you've got grass, glue, glop, and goop in the gaps, it's almost impossible to solder. For those places I recommend drilling holes through to the underside of the module, soldering wires to each section of track, and joining them beneath the layout. I'm hoping for much better performance this year! (:
The original power-feed design of T-Trak modules called for using Kato's 20-041 (62mm) power-feed track on each mainline. The plans on the Official T-TRAK web site (
) show the feeder on the front mainline at the right end of a module; the back mainline at the left end.
The power-feed has a socket underneath where the power cord plugs in. Make sure the KATO logo is showing when you plug in the connector! The power feed track is mounted on the module so the end of the power feed without the plug is at the end of the module. In order to hide the wiring, you drill a 3/4" hole 1-3/4" from the end of the module, right under the plug and socket. The hole also lets you make sure the plug is firmly in the socket (in case it wiggles loose). Looking at the plans, with the hole at the 'inboard' end of the power feed, that's where the plug must be. Looking at the diagram here, which represents a typical module (missing its center section),
when the power feed at the right end is right-side up the Blue wire is towards the front of the module; the feed at the left end has the Blue wire to the back of the module. This is the "Blue-White-White-Blue" or "Blue to the Outside" wiring standard. It may not be the best way to do it, but it's the standard-- there are too many modules wired this way to switch now!
When both tracks are connected to a single DC-Analog power supply, and both blue wires go to one terminal and both white wires to the other, trains on the two mainlines will run in opposite directions. Trains will run without issue-- until we add a double-crossover. When we switch the double-crossover to run a train from one track to the other, we instantly create a short circuit. The Blue rail from one track will be connected to the White rail from the other track.
DCC-Digital uses the same power supply to run both mainlines, just like a single DC-Analog power supply running both mainlines. With the same short-circuit issues.
For DC-Analog power, this means trains on both tracks will run in the same direction. For DCC-Digital power, because DCC-Digital controls the engines, not the track, trains can run in either direction.
What if we had added a 2nd DC-Analog power supply for the 2nd track? If both trains were running in opposite directions, using the double-crossover would still cause a short circuit. However, if we use the forward/reverse switch on ONE track, so the trains are running in the same direction, we can use the double crossover without problems.
On the Official T-Trak Web Site () the diagram of the basic module shows the feeder tracks mounted at opposite ends of the module, with 3/4" holes to allow for the power feeds.
When assembled in this manner, the blue wires on the Feeder Tracks will power the outside rails.
So the rule is: "Blue wire to the outside"
When using the Terminal Unijoiners make sure the joiners with the blue wires connect to the outside rails.
Unfortunately, the design of the Viaduct power attachments is contrary to the T-Trak "Blue to the Outside" rule. However, there's a fairly simple work-around.
Here's a view of the top and bottom with parts identified...
Here's a close up of the Viaduct power connections.
The viaduct connectors are keyed; there's a notch along one side of the socket, and a corresponding nub on the plug. This makes it impossible to mis-align the plug, but doesn't allow Blue-to-the-Outside.
The fix is simple. I've placed the power connections on the 2 adjoining sections of Viaduct so the connections are on the ends of the Viaducts nearest each other.
This places the key notches towards each other, and also reverses the connection. Power each track using the connection points on different sections of Viaduct, and you still have Blue-to-the-Outside.
You can only do this if the Viaduct includes at least 1 straight section, or if your Viaduct includes an "S" curve.
Of course, this all assumes that you're going to feed power to the viaduct using the Viaduct Power Connectors. If you do, you'll have to come up with a way to hide the power cord. It may be easier to power from the ends of the viaduct and avoid this problem entirely!
Kato's Unitrack is an amazingly robust product. It's almost impossible to mis-align a rail joiner, and the action of joining and unjoining track keeps the contacts clean.
Unfortunately, the rail joints within a module never have a chance to be cleaned in this manner. And all of the scenic paint, glue, gunk, and goo are magically drawn into the narrow confines of the Unijoiners.
In many cases this is not a major problem; there is still enough contact to keep power flowing. However, as T-Trak layouts grow larger and larger all of the minor power drops add up. And the trains s-l-o-w d-o-w-n on the sections of the layout farthest from the power connection.
With analog/DC controls this is bad enough, but with digital/DCC it's even worse.
The solution is to use the power connections that should be available on many modules and provide a parallel path for power-- plug in more modules! This is why it's important that all power connections follow the "Blue-to-the-Outside" rule!
If there are no power connections in a convenient location, 24-818 Terminal Unijoiners can be used between any 2 modules. It is probably a good idea to split the cord, so you have a lot more slack between the 2 joiners-- when you separate the modules, one joiner is going to stay with each module!
If your layout has grown to an amazing size you may notice that your trains slow down at the end farthest from the power connection. The solution is to plug more modules into track power. But it's a pain to have to hook together a large number of Kato Extension Cords (about 3 foot long each) in order to feed power to the "other end" of the layout.
With each cord you get an additional plug/jack connection. And the cord is fairly small gauge, so you will lose some power with each section you add.
A more robust (and longer) extension cord would be nice.
Some things to consider:
)-- they have made a set of power cables based on the N-Trak alternate standard (using Anderson Power Pole connectors). This allows them to share power supplies between the N-Trak and T-Trak Divisions.What I'm doing:
My power cables are about 10 feet, and come in Red/White for the outer mainline, Yellow/White for the inner mainline, and Black/Red (eventually Gray/Pink) for AC Auxilliary power. The connectors in this picture are from both ends of the cable plugged together.
My power taps are about a foot of my power cord (12v landscape cable- 12 gauge) with an attached Kato Cube tap. I painted the bodies of the cube taps to match the power bus they're part of. This helps avoid confusion!
The 'greatest' improvement in model railroading in the past few decades has been the introduction of DCC, Digital Command Control. Unfortunately, I have a fleet of old-style DC/Analog-equipped locomotives.
As such, I run both DC/Analog and DCC/Digital equipment on my T-Trak layout. And need to switch track power from one source to the other.
I've equipped my power unit with toggle switches to make this process easier.
Because T-Trak is wired with the "Blue Wires to the Outside," adding a crossover to the layout will result in a short-circuit the instant the turnouts are moved to the 'crossover' position.
The "Phaser" toggle switch was added to reverse the power to one of the tracks. It is simply a standard reversing switch. It reverses the polarity of one track so a double crossover can be used.
All the pieces are available at your local Radio Snack store.
Ted wrote: "One part of the Unitrack system I don't care for is the turnout control switch... What kind [of toggle switch] do I need and how do I attach the wires from the DC converter and the turnout? Thanks in advance, Ted"
The Kato Turnout is moved by a Turnout Motor. It's a tiny solenoid, hidden under and inside the ballast strip. The Turnout Motor runs on DC (Direct Current). This is different than the common Atlas turnout motor, which will run on DC or AC (Alternating Current).
Because the Turnout Motor runs on DC, it only needs 2 wires connected to it. To throw the turnout, one wire ('A') is positive and the other ('B') is negative; going in the other direction 'A' is negative and 'B' is positive.
The Turnout Motor is only fed electricity for the moment it takes to move the points.
The Kato turnouts can be controlled manually or electrically. There is a manual lever poking out of the ballast strip next to the free end of the point rails. There are 2 ways to electrify the Kato switches:
Use the official Kato #24-840 Turnout Controllers, and the #24-842 DC Converter (ie Power Adapter).
The DC Converter (Power Adapter) is a rectifier. Physically, it is a little box with wires on one edge, and 2 snap connectors (very much like the ones on a 9v battery) on one side. The wires connect to the AC terminals of your power pack, and DC is fed out of the snap connectors.
The Turnout Controllers are blue plastic electrical switches. Snap connectors on both sides (male on one, female on the other) allow a row of controllers to be snapped together. The DC Converter is snapped to the left side of the first controller in a row to supply electricity to the entire row. A socket on the back mates with the plug on the cord from the turnout motor.
The Turnout Controller is a momentary contact Double Pole, Double Throw (DPDT) switch. As you move the control from one position to the other, contact is made for a brief fraction of a second, sending DC current to the Turnout Motor.
You can use MOMENTARY CONTACT double-pole, double-throw switches (with MomentaryOn / Off / MomentaryOn positions). They are wired the same way a reversing switch for track power is wired, but the power coming in is fixed DC (Direct Current) from your power pack, and the power goes out to the Kato turnout connector. You'll have to cannibalize a Kato power cord to get the connector (I haven't had any luck finding naked Kato connectors). This lets you pick a MOMENTARY CONTACT DPDT switch that you can mount on your control panel.
NOTICE: IF you use the Unofficial Way, YOU MUST use a MOMENTARY toggle switch! If you use a plain, ordinary toggle switch, you'll burn out the turnout motor!!! And have just a manual turnout.
If you look at the back of the momentary double-pole, double-throw, center-off toggle switch, it has 6 electrical terminals: 3 pairs of 2 terminals. Hold the momentary toggle switch so there are 3 rows of 2 terminals. It is wired the same as you would wire a reversing toggle switch for track feed. Connect the center 2 contacts to the auxiliary DC (Direct Current) terminals of your power pack.
The remaining four contacts are wired as follows: Connect 2 short wires across the 'diagonals' of the momentary toggle switch: from upper-left to lower-right, and from upper-right to lower-left. Wires to the turnout motor connect to the upper-left and upper-right contacts.
Since a switch doesn't care about polarity, it doesn't matter which pair of wires goes to the track, and which pair goes to the DC Power supply.
This re-creates the effect of the Kato controller. When you push the momentary toggle in one direction, wire 'A' is positive and 'B' is negative; pushing the momentary toggle in the other direction, 'A' is negative and 'B' is positive. When you mount the momentary toggle switch in your control panel, you can turn it around so the toggle moves in a logical direction.
Concerning the wires heading for the turnout: you'll probably need to sacrifice a Kato extension cord to get the female connector that mates with the connector that powers the turnout motor. If you're -really- brave, you can sacrifice the connector on the turnout and just connect the wires. (: However, I've found that being able to unplug things has a certain amount of convenience.
The problem with using a momentary toggle switch is that you can't tell which direction the turnout is in after it's thrown-- the position of the toggle switch is always in the center. IF YOU INSERT A MOMENTARY PUSH BUTTON (ie doorbell button) IN ONE OF THE LEADS FROM THE POWERPACK, you can use a normal (non-momentary) DPDT toggle switch. And the position of the handle will point in the direction the turnout is thrown. You will move the toggle switch to the desired position, then push the momentary push button.
The drawback with this is that you have to throw the toggle then press the button. But the toggle does represent the position of the turnout. IF YOU DON'T USE THE MOMENTARY PUSHBUTTON IN SERIES YOU'LL BURN OUT THE KATO TURNOUT MOTOR!! You could make the toggle switch a 3PDT (Three-pole, Double-throw) switch, and use the additional contacts to control the panel lights.
One possible advantage of the switch/pushbutton combination is that you could wire it so the one button controls a whole bank of switches: flip a dozen or more toggles, press one button, and watch the layout walk across the floor as all of the turnout points thud against the stock rails at the same time. Your power supply may not be up to it though... (:
IF YOU BURN OUT YOUR TURNOUT MOTOR BECAUSE YOU DID NOT USE A MOMENTARY SWITCH IN THE CIRCUIT, IT'S YOUR TOUGH LUCK FOR NOT FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS!
You've been warned!
Did I hear someone say "pushbuttons?" Here's a circuit that will let you use momentary SPST (Single-Pole, Single-Throw) pushbuttons to control your turnouts. The power source is the -AC- output from a power pack, and a couple of 2.5 Amp, 1000 PIV (Peak Inverse Volts) diodes to turn the AC into pulsed DC to run the turnouts. You'll have to experiment to figure out which button moves the turnout which direction.
This diagram shows how the diodes turn AC into pulsed DC. AC current is a "sine wave;" that's the shape of the curve (and my curve is only an approximation of the correct shape). Notice that AC current starts at zero, goes positive to a peak, then back thru zero and negative by the same amount, then back to zero. The diodes select either the positive or the negative current, depending on which button is pressed, and route it to the turnout.
There are several circuit ideas out on the web that will light up appropriate indicators while allowing you to use a momentary DPDT switch. Start with http://www.awrr.com/indicator.html.
Someone asked if it was necessary to have a power supply for every 6 turnouts. No, you should be able to plug a large number of Kato controllers together (or wire an equally large number using momentary switches) without problems, as long as you only throw one or two turnouts at once! The problem is when you try to throw all of the turnouts at once-- the power supply won't be able to handle the drain.
Exterior Right Side Exterior Left Side
This is the Kato turnout controller. Due to persistent curiosity, I opened up one of these to see what was inside. No, there's no conventional switch in there!
The controller is clamped together by the male and female snaps on the outside and 2 metal posts inside the shell. The female snap is swaged to the post. The post slips into the right half-shell, and the snap fits into a socket; it won't slip through the shell. A clip on each post keeps it from falling back out and keeps it standing straight during assembly. After the left half-shell is placed over the controller, 2 teensy screws hold the male snaps to the posts, and clamp the controller together.
Back inside, the female plug (the one that mates with the cable that heads to the turnout motor) fits into molded guides at the back of the controller. 2 springy wires connect to the plug, and describe a U-shaped path, with one wire on the 'North' side of the 2 posts, and the other on the 'South' side.
Left Side Right Side with all parts in place
Control handle connects to The Thingy
A complicated-looking pivoting Thingy between the posts grips the wires. The control handle is a separate piece, and wiggles the Thingy either clockwise or counter-clockwise. As the Thingy moves, one wire is pushed against post "A" while the other is pushed against post "B." In one direction wire 1 touches post A, and 2 touches B, in the other direction wire 2 touches post A and 1 touches B.
Right Side, Handle Removed Control Handle
Right Side, Thingy Removed The Thingy and Cylinder, 2 Views
A tiny cylinder slips over a post on the Thingy to reduce friction between the Thingy and the control handle.
A simple yet elegant way to build a switch! And the person who designed the "Thingy" is amazing!
This is a lot simpler-- Inside the case is small circuit board with 4 diodes mounted on it-- a standard bridge rectifier circuit. The circuit fits into the base of the case. The lid fits over the circuit board, and 2 female snaps fit through the lid. Two teensy screws clamp the snaps to the circuit board and the back of the case, and also hold the lid shut. The case indicates 17 volts AC in (via wires), and 12 volts DC out (via the snaps).
Because it's a bridge rectifier, you can feed it with DC if you like, and the correct polarity power will show up at the snaps.
An electrical switch can be either Continuous contact or Momentary contact. Examples: Continuous-- a light switch, one position is ON, the other is OFF. Momentary-- a doorbuzzer button, the buzzer only buzzes when your finger is pushing the button.
A simple on-off switch is a Single-Pole, Single-Throw (SPST) switch. Power comes in on a single wire, and can leave by another. The switch provides a mechanism that allows you to join the 2 wires with a piece of metal, completing the circuit.
A Double-Pole, Double-Throw (DPDT) switch consists of 2 switches (Double-Pole), each of which can complete 2 circuits (Double-Throw). The 2 switches (Poles) are mechanically joined internally (by an insulated 'device') and can not be operated independently. Within each pole, power comes in on a single wire (the Common wire), and can leave by 2 different routes. The switch provides a mechanism that allows you to connect the Common wire to either of the other 2 wires.
Double-throw switches come in several flavors: 2 "ON" positions; 2 "ON" positions and a center "OFF" position; and Momentary "ON" / "OFF" / Momentary "ON." This third type is what we need to control Kato Unitrack turnout motors.
The diagrams show the switch in its 2 "ON" positions. Power arrives via the wires connected to the center (Common) pair of terminals.
Depending on the position of the switch, internal connections link power to the top terminals, leading to the turnout motor, or to the bottom terminals.
If power is connected to the bottom terminals, it flows acros the "X" wires to the top terminal on the -opposite- side, reversing the polarity of the power (ie the Red and Blue are reversed).
It doesn't matter if you swap the 2 pair of wires leading to the switch; it functions just the same if the wires connected to the common terminals go to the turnout motor and the top terminals are connected to the power pack.
Once upon a time I built a Power Control Center to make it easier to set up my T-Trak layout. My goal was to avoid having to re-connect wires to power packs, Zephyr, whistles, horns, and other items. I had toggle switches to select between DC/Analog and DCC/Digital power for each of the 2 T-Trak mainlines, and 'phasers' (reversing switches) for each power source for each track. There was a programming track with an on/off switch, and buttons to sound the horn or whistle.
Track power cords were permanently attached to the right spots, and there were other spots to conveniently plug in various cords for horns and whistles.
The Power Control Center was built in a Stanley home tool center. Originally, it had 3 sections, but at the store they had a stray 'middle' section, and I bought that, too. Plastic latches locked the sections together; they were interchangeable.
It was usable, but had several flaws.
-- It was heavy. Fortunately, it had wheels and a dolly handle.
-- The lid had to stay closed if you wanted to use the programming track!
-- Stanley did a decent job of designing the unit, but the execution was lacking--
.. -- The latches that held the sections together were designed for lighter duty than I was subjecting them to-- I had to make sure they didn't open at a bad time!
.. -- The unit was designed to roll a selection of tools across the paved garage floor, not to go up and down stairs, across parking lots, and into strange venues. It was a bit flimsy.
In addition, I often had to leave the bottom storage section behind because I had too much other stuff to haul around to train shows!
I needed something a bit more compact!
Stanley also makes a heavy-duty, water-resistant tool chest. I shopped with a tape measure in hand, and the dimensions of power-packs and Zephyr at hand. The Stanley box is big enough and strong enough to hold all the parts I wanted to include.
Inside, there's a removable tool tote (which can be positioned at either end of the box). The yellow gasket around the lid makes it water-resistant.
Removing the tool tote, I taped together a pattern for a shelf.
And here's the shelf...
And here's the shelf with the reinforcing strips being glued in place.
Shelf in place, trying it on for size. In this shot you can see the ends of the case. Notice how they're recessed. This came in handy when I designed the panels for all the wires that plug into this thing!
Here's all the stuff that goes inside! There are 2 DC/Analog power-packs (one for each T-Trak mainline); a Digitrak Zephyr DCC/Digital power-pack; buttons for horn and whistle; power selector switches; a single phaser; programming power on/off switch; and provision for an audio MP3 or iPod player for diesel horn sounds.
In the space below the shelf there's an AC Power Strip; a locobuffer/USB wired between the Zephyr and the right end panel (more about this later); the wall wart for the Zephyr; and a USB power feed for an iPod.
Here's what it looks like fully loaded.
In addition to the normal occupants while in use, there's limited room for 2 wireless Digitrak throttles, a USB cord, and a Bright-Boy. The main power cord is the white thing draped over the front of the box.
Here's what replaced an entire drawer of the old monster: Buttons to sound the horn or whistle; a switch to control power to the programming track outlet; 2 toggle switches to select which type of power to feed each mainline; and a -single- phaser switch! I realized, first, that in the drawer I had spaced my switches a lot farther apart that I needed to! Second, I only needed a -single- phaser switch. A 'phaser switch' is simply a DPDT (double-pole, double-throw) toggle switch wired as a standard reversing switch. It's in series with the power feed to one mainline. If you have a double-crossover and a short-circuit, flip the phaser and the problem disappears! In the old drawer I had 3 phasers too many!
In the recessed areas at each end of the tool box I cut a hole big enough to mount a 4x4 electrical box. This, of course, totally destroyed the water-resistant feature of the tool box. And I didn't use a 'real' electrical box, I used a 'low-voltage frame,' which is basically a square of plastic that clamps to the hole, but is totally open in back. It's easier to wire that way!
The recessed areas provide some protection for the 2 panels of plugs, jacks, and outlets I added!
The left end is covered with a blank 4x4 electrical plate. Mounted on the plate are a selection of power-pole connectors. There is a 9-10-Connector at the top, and two 5-6-Connectors below. There are short spacer keys between each pair of plugs-- you can't plug 2 cords in side-by-side without some sort of space between them!
I found the power-pole connectors at Allied Electronics. The numbers 9,10 and 5,6 refer to the number of conductors the connector can hold. The Allied/Anderson part numbers I ordered are {9,10 Connector-803-0088/1470G4} {5,6 Connector-803-0150/1470G2} {Short Spacer Key, Red-803-0152/1399G1 (turned black with a magic marker) Anderson #1399G6 would work as well} {Retaining Pin-803-0158/110G9} You can search the web for patterns for the mounting holes; the connectors just snap into place.
The top row has outlets (red/yellow) for the programing track and (white/yellow) for the inner mainline. Bottom-right has outlets (white/red) for the outer mainline. Bottom-left has outlets (gray/pink) for AC auxilliary power for accessories.
At the right end of the box is a 12-outlet "Keystone" plate. Keystone is a modular connector system with inserts that snap into place in a more-or-less square hole.
Top Row: LocoNet outlet; Diesel Horn Button outlet; Steam Whistle Button Outlet; Diesel Horn Audio Outlet.
Middle Row: LocoNet outlet; 3 blank spots.
Bottom Row: USB connector from LocoBuffer; Jump Throttle 1 Input; Jump Throttle 2 Input; 1 blank spot.
The two 'Button' outlets in the top row are actually deep-panel 1/4" audio jacks (I think I got them at a guiter store). They didn't really fit the Keystone holes, so I flattened 2 lock washers to fit around the jacks to make a snug fit.
* * *
What I now have is a more-or-less portable (it weighs about 1/4 ton!) unit that contains all of the connections to power my T-Trak layout.
--It uses my version of NV-Ntrak's power bus system ( click on TTrak Division and scroll down to the "out of the ordinary" section).
What it doesn't have--
--A computer to run JMRI (but it does have a LocoBuffer connection)
--Wireless LocoNet base stations
What I've lost--
--the programming track (although there's an outlet you can plug a programming track into).
--The VCR. Any video recording will have to be yet another unit.
--The assorted storage. Not a major loss; bringing the table drapes and extension cords as separate boxes works out OK-- I had to disconnect the base of the old monster to get at the cords and drapes.
Back to Top
Reliability
Power Connections
Power Trunks
Power Routing
Kato Turnouts
Inside Kato
Power Box
