Phase Two: Electrical Updates

After writing about updating the cab bus, I realized that I haven't kept up here with other parts of the wiring additions as the 4th Subdivision has grown. In case I ever decide to move forward with the NMRA's AP for electrical, I sketched up a propulsion circuitry drawing for the new sections. Several aspects of the new work at least meet the minimums for some of the requirements for the electrical AP. The Ferndale Junction yard has the required minimum of "three tracks and a switching lead independent of the main line." 

The requirements of the electrical AP also include "a power supply with protective devices." I use NCE EB1 circuit breakers to create power districts, and the new sections of Phase Two will be my second power district with Nooksack and East Branch as the initial power district. The red and black lines are coming from the right into the terminal block from my 5 amp Power Pro system. The terminal block has room for additional circuit breakers for power districts as the long range plan moves forward. Exiting to the left are the DCC buses for the two power districts. 

The propulsion circuitry drawing above shows the location of feeders dropped from the track to the main bus as well as the power district gap. When I installed the track between the new section and the Nooksack section I left a physical gap, but didn't install insulated track joiners. I later went back and filled the gap with black styrene super-glued in place.  I then needed to trim the gap filling styrene for smooth running. I tried to adjust the slight difference in rail height between the sections with a shim under the Nooksack side. In hindsight, I really should have used insulated joiners right from the begining. 

I still have a couple of relatively minor track/wiring issues to clean up before I paint the track in the new sections. The question is whether to prep for all the new track or just part of it. Chris Adams, on his blog, just posted the notion that you will make more progress by doing what excites you. I am in the mood to do some scenery, so I think that I will take his advice and figure out how to transition to that!