The Balance of Power

The layout has experienced some track power issues for some time now and here Jim Fox ponders a possible solution to end them. The Digitrax system in use included two boosters to power track in two outlier sections, Jutland to Heron's Landing on one side and the branchline area on the other. Power checking revealed lower readings in those areas affecting locomotives in both speed and continuity.






So, early on a June Sunday morning, Jim and his power broker Don Woolcott proceeded to relocate the boosters close to the middle of the two affected areas. Here Jim is checking for a possible location under Lincoln yard.

Don arrived with one of those all positional ladders and a reel of elecrtrical wire found laying around in his attic possibly abandoned by the electriction who was involved in the construction of Don's house. It was put to good use running an overhead power line from the main panel at the east end
of Wellington to the relocated booster under Lincoln. Unfortunately the camera did not record the physical hi-jinks of Don and Jim on the ladder and layout feeding the wire across the aisle. Luckily, both are still living. This shot shows Don salvaging an duplex outlet box to hook to the above power cable under Lincoln.











This is the Digitrax power booster under Heron's Landing that was relocated from the main panel.











Now, all that's left to finish the relocation of the booster under Lincoln is to build a shelf for it to sit on.

Well done, guys!!  This Tuesday is a work night and an opportunity to see if this work has corrected an annoying layout situation.