Hi all, As I am now slowly placing and connecting track along my end-to-end layout (Braughing to Standon branch) to ensure it all fits and aligns to the cork track bed, it will soon be time to test all connectivity and then wire up numerous point motors (SEEPS) for more testing before finally fixing the track permanently.  

As I will be having a main branch DMU train running back and forth (manually controlled) and one (possibly two) shunters in a couple of siding areas .. and the whole length of the layout as approx 16ft, I am thinking of using two Gaugemaster Combi's 12v for the train controls (each placed at either end of the layout for operational ease) and a separate Gaugemaster M1 for the points and any accessories.

Is this overkill (and unnecessary cost) to have the M1 but rather use the AC connections on the Combi's to power the points?

Advice or pointers very welcome from the forum members vast experience.

Thank you
Paul 

Unless the Gaugemaster Combi have the AC on a separate winding of the mains transformer, I would go for a M1  because if the Combi is not separate, it can be that operating a solenoid can make a loco slow down due to current drain & voltage drop.

Hi Paul,

It's a 1 amp output at the wall driving both the a.c. and d.c. circuits. I think you would probably need a separate a.c. circuit. Plus a cdu if you have more than a few points to operate.

Any specific reason you are not going for DCC control? That way you can pretty much ignore all those blocks that you will need with three locos on the go.

Nigel

Sol … many thanks for the advisory … good point. 
@Nigel …. thanks also. Why DC and not DCC? Just preference really as I like the thought of a control panel and manual 'operation' of the layout. Also, I have no real intention of having 3 locos on the go at once, possibly two if I have another operator to join in occasionally and then the block isolated areas will suffice for the operational needs. Did toy with DCC but I now look forward to the challenge of creating what I set out to do and use the help provided by Trevor. Its a slow sleepy branch line :-)

cheers
Paul

This suggestion might help with your SEEP setting….






Don't forget to look in the forum alphabetical index, loads of entries under 'SEEP'.

Doug

Thanks Doug …. good suggestion and actually I was reading an older posting on this forum just last Thursday that first mentioned this. Actually was it your thread on Bear's End?

Bless you, well, some people are still interested in History   tee hee.
D

Hi everyone.
Wondering if I need more than one CDU to operate a total of 18 points, split nearly 50/50 over the two ends of my 16  x 2ft end to end DC layout. Only a max of two points at a time will be switched at once, otherwise each point will only be switched individually and momentarily. Normally there will be one operator but could be two periodically each manning either end of the layout. Point motors are SEEPS and there will be a separate transformer supply for points on.

I'm thinking with the dedicated power supply and 16 core wiring feeds it should be ok with just the one CDU but thanks for any guidance offered. 

Paul

Paul, being reasonably cheap, I had one CDU for each station but I now use the one-wire circuit
http://brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical.html#One

Thanks Sol ... appreciate the feedback