Good news there Justin! Glad your problem is solved. Sometimes the simplest thing is the solution. The NCE PowerCab is really great and easy to use. Enjoy operating your BLI NW-2!

I finished laying and soldering track today!

In the next couple of days I will be wiring up the layout. My Grandpa is great at electronics so he will be helping me.

Oh, and here is the FINAL track-plan :

Great looking trackplan. Can I make one suggestion? If you manage to bring forward the backdrop behind the mine a couple of inches, you could add an additional hidden staging track, maybe two. And you know you can never have enough staging for operational interest.
The formula that people tend to use is N=2n+1 where n= the staging you THINK you need, and N = is the actual staging you would need for good operations.

Not to make you change your mind again though, it's good as it is, but if..... ;-)

Koos

torikoos Wrote:Great looking trackplan. Can I make one suggestion? If you manage to bring forward the backdrop behind the mine a couple of inches, you could add an additional hidden staging track, maybe two. And you know you can never have enough staging for operational interest.
The formula that people tend to use is N=2n+1 where n= the staging you THINK you need, and N = is the actual staging you would need for good operations.

Not to make you change your mind again though, it's good as it is, but if..... ;-)

Koos

I think I will only need one staging track since I only have one engine and all trains will be made up using the "0-5-0" switcher.

Justinmiller171 Wrote:

torikoos Wrote:Great looking trackplan. Can I make one suggestion? If you manage to bring forward the backdrop behind the mine a couple of inches, you could add an additional hidden staging track, maybe two. And you know you can never have enough staging for operational interest.
The formula that people tend to use is N=2n+1 where n= the staging you THINK you need, and N = is the actual staging you would need for good operations.

Not to make you change your mind again though, it's good as it is, but if..... ;-)

Koos

I think I will only need one staging track since I only have one engine and all trains will be made up using the "0-5-0" switcher.

That's great, for now, but what about in a year or two, when you maybe, just maybe, have a second engine, or a third?
Still operating one at a time? While there's certainly nothing wrong with that (a lot, if not most people have more locos than they've got space for), I'm not sure if you'll still be as happy with it. By all means enjoy it, don't get me wrong please, just trying to help, but while you're in the building stage, just think about it some more, before you really commit yourself and rush in to start scenery etc..
In any case, good luck, and hope to see your progress soon, I love seeing layouts being build! :-)

Koos

I "Finished" wiring today, but unfortunately there are many short circuts I thought DCC was supposed to make wiring easier

The problem occur with the Polarity of the switches and I don't feel like doing much more wiring.

What sort of turnouts are you using, and just how are you wiring them?

Galen

I am using the newer type of Walthers Turnouts, I used a multi-meter to check the turnouts and the readings show that the Frogs are uninsulated. This may be because of my track configuration, or there is something wrong with the turnouts, some of the rail has came loose from the ties and may be causing the track to go out of gauge, which also may be causing parts of the turnouts to touch.

Here is where I have placed Power feeders:

OK....Beginner's luck (generally bad.... :-( ). If you're sure the frogs are uninsulated (called "live" frogs) you will need to put a gap on the frog rails...The 2 leading away from the turnout. Since your track is already laid, that means cutting the rail joiners on the frog rails. You can use a Dremel tool with a cutting disk. Use very carefully and wear eye protection. Those little disks tend to break quite easily. If no Dremel is handy, use a track cutting saw...NOT a hacksaw...Once you've cut the gaps, insert a styrene spacer in there to prevent the gap from closing. You can use CA to hold it in place. Trim the spacer so it doesn't interfere with the wheels and cause a derailment.
You have several feeder wires which is good, but in some places you will need to add jumper wires because the track beyond the frog might have gone "dead" after cutting the gaps. Be VERY certain that all your feeders from your DCC panel's "A" output a go to the "inside" rails, and the "B" output goes to the "outside" rails. If they're not, you're causing a short circuit right off the bat, and no amount of gap cutting or jumpers is going to fix it. You should check this before you go cutting any gaps. Wiring for DCC is easy...if done right.

Okay, I have put gaps in most of the turnouts that were causing short-circuits, and guess what! I am still having short circuits

I have a straight piece of track with a turnout that is Isolated at both of the diverging ends, and it still has short circuits!

Gus already said it well enough. I'll add, work slowly and methodically, isolating sections as you go and eliminating possibilities. Do you have a multimeter or circuit light/tester? If not, you'll be VERY frustrated trying to hunt down the short without one, essentially using your DCC system as a short finder.

I thought DCC was supposed to simplify wiring?!?

Galen

Did you check to see if your feeders were all correctly wired (A to inside rail and B to outside..)..?? Betcha dimes to dollars you got one (or more) that are backassward...

I was very careful wiring my layout and when it came time to test it, I had a short. Checked all the wiring under the table and turnouts as well, but the short persisted...... Until I saw a piece of metal sitting across the rails. Removed it from the rails and everything worked. (another slap your forehead moment.) So check to make sure there is no metal sitting across the rails. And take your time. It is not the most fun part of the hobby, but once it's done you can move on to the fun.
Keep us updated.

John

That's not unknown to me. A piece of rail, even the NMRA gauge can cause a short.

Wolfgang