T-Trak T-TRAK Wiring for DCC Both Tracks

[Dave V]

Trying to get smart on T-TRAK wiring. I've been lazy in that the modules I've built thus far just have the feeders hanging down (and they have the Kato plugs on them still). I did follow the blue-white-white-blue standard, because I want the modules to be 100% compatible in a larger setup.

I know we've had this convo before, but I've had some brain fog lately regarding wiring these things. What's the best, smartest way to connect all of these in a way that is compatible both with the standard T-TRAK setup and can be run DCC on both tracks most of the time? Something using easy-to-get/use components.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

There is a TON of freedom here (and we know how that gets us into trouble, lol).

First, right away, get a red and yellow marker and mark the plugs. Red for the front, yellow for the back. That's a pretty standard convention that I've seen carried over from NTRAK.

BANTRAK typically just uses Kato components to tie things together: the threeway junction box/extension cords and other extension cords to connect module to module. For what you're doing, I think this is the way to go.

I've seen a really need custom job done where someone basically built a daisy chain out of the extension cords by removing the one plug and tapping that end into the wire of another so you get plugs spaced every few feet.

The only tricky part is if you want to be able to use your crossovers without shorting. That's easily done by simply cutting the wires on one of the Kato extension cords and flipping white to blue. I've done this using pass-through Wago knock offs for a solder-free approach.

Don't over think it. It really is as simple as "Wire A to rail A, wire B to rail B".  It's not NTRAK where you have buses for each track + continuous power, etc...

[squirrelhunter]

Ed's right, keep it as simple as possible. Our club has some kato to powerpole conversion cables we made by grafting power pole connectors to Kato cables that we have set up to reverse polarity when we want to run the whole layout on the same DCC system.

We use Kato wiring only for regular control setups and only break out the power pole equipped wires for when we want to do reverse polarity to avoid any confusion.

[Dave V]

Based on this, it sounds like the easiest thing to do is wire the two tracks on separate buses and simply flip the wires from one track where they come into the DCC command station... Is that about right?

What are some useful Kato components to make this work?

EDIT: I'd like to know more about this powerpole reverser idea.

[Maletrain]

Based on this, it sounds like the easiest thing to do is wire the two tracks on separate buses and simply flip the wires from one track where they come into the DCC command station... Is that about right?
.  .  .  .  .

This!

I set up a T-Trak demo display at the club, and have the connectors marked red and yellow as Ed posted, to make it clear which connector goes to which loop.

We have 2 DC power packs, so we can run each loop separately, and those are marked with the colored tapes so we know which goes to what loop.
There is a sort piece of Kato track power cable wired to swap blue to white between its ends, and it is marked "Polarity Change Connector".  That can be put into one of the DC power feed cables when we want to allow crossovers between the 2 loops.  Of course, the users need to rcognize that they need to have consistent direction switch settings on the 2 power packs, just like any DC setup.

We also have a DCS52 that I setup with two Kato cables such that the PHASES ARE REVESED between the two connections. Their module ends are also color coded. 

That way, when I plug both loops into DCC, they are properly phased for crossovers between the loops, and there is no reason to want it any other way.

Or, if I want one loop to be DC and the other to be DCC, I can plug one loop into a DC power pack and the other  into one of the DCC cables.  Simple - and the colors on the connectors keep straight what is powering what.

The only issue with one loop DC and the other DCC comes from the potential for crossovers somewhere on the modules possibly allowing loco wheels to bridge the 2 power sources together if set to crossover.  As far as I know, that is uncharted electrical territory, and I have no intention of "exploring" it.

It is awfully easy to bump the manual  turnout sliders on Kato turnouts, so I intend to use some physical barrier across any crossover tracks if I ever set things up with DC on one loop and DCC on the other.  Haven't done it yet, but I am thinking of a thin piece of wood that goes across the crossover tracks, parallel to the "mainlines", with short rods at both ends that insert into holes in the module surface too keep the barrier in place when hit by a loco, so that the loco can't slide the barrier far enough to bridge the insulated gaps.

[Lackawannae8]

Red is DEAD (closest to you usually) is my guideline
Yellow is inside.
 I use wire labels or shrink tube on my stuff but recently went to all power pole cubes off the back then made kato connector pigtail converters to run with the Unupdated groups who still want to run Kato busses

[Lackawannae8]

The only tricky part is if you want to be able to use your crossovers without shorting. That's easily done by simply cutting the wires on one of the Kato extension cords and flipping white to blue. I've done this using pass-through Wago knock offs for a solder-free approach.

Petition to BAN kato crossovers from T TRAK in 2026. but you could use the good ol JP GenderBender

[Maletrain]

I am not understanding the logic of changing the module standard to have Anderson Power Pole connectors on the individual modules.  Those are not what new modelers just getting into T-Trak are going to find easy to come by and easy to install.  Why not just keep the Power Poles for end connections on the bus segments and have the Kato connectors wired into each bus segment for connections to modules?

[squirrelhunter]

I am not understanding the logic of changing the module standard to have Anderson Power Pole connectors on the individual modules.  Those are not what new modelers just getting into T-Trak are going to find easy to come by and easy to install.  Why not just keep the Power Poles for end connections on the bus segments and have the Kato connectors wired into each bus segment for connections to modules?

We use Kato components for power drops from the modules themselves, but one on our members made up a.number of Kato to power pole and vice versa connectors so we could tap into our bus cables that have both power poles and crimpless taps. If we are not doing an polarity swaps, we usually just use all Kato components, we have some Kato 3 way extension cords with the male end cut off we use with the crimpless taps.

If we are reversing polarity on a loop, we use the power pole connectors on the bus to connect to our power pole to Kato adapters, amd we don't clip the power poles together so that way we can reverse them as needed
 The adapters are set up with a black power pole to the blue Kato wire and red or yellow (so we can still color code to the correct loop) to the white Kato wire.

This is all kind of awkward to explain, but at setups it's pretty easy to show. All the cables are boxed up in the garage right now since the next show is more that 2 months away so I can't easily dig them out to take pictures, which would help show what I'm talking about..

[Dave V]

I am not understanding the logic of changing the module standard to have Anderson Power Pole connectors on the individual modules.  Those are not what new modelers just getting into T-Trak are going to find easy to come by and easy to install.  Why not just keep the Power Poles for end connections on the bus segments and have the Kato connectors wired into each bus segment for connections to modules?

I don't even have a visual for how the powerpoles are used or what they're used for.

[davefoxx]

[ridinshotgun]

I am not understanding the logic of changing the module standard to have Anderson Power Pole connectors on the individual modules.  Those are not what new modelers just getting into T-Trak are going to find easy to come by and easy to install.  Why not just keep the Power Poles for end connections on the bus segments and have the Kato connectors wired into each bus segment for connections to modules?

Why does it really matter as long as they still have the required KATO connector to connect to the bus? And let's be truthful, 90% of t-trak guys and girls aren't fresh to the hobby people. While it is sold as a way to get people into the hobby it is predominantly older modelers who decided they don' want to carry larger format modules to shows any longer for a variety of reasons.  Almost every one of those formats already use power poles as the standard connector.

As to a why....All of my modules have built in power poles flush mounted in the rear facia.  That way no jack wagon can treat my track feeder wires like a silver back ape with a fresh banana, straining the connectors.  And I have seen it happen where someone had momentary lack of judgement and grabbed a module by the wires.  Every module travels with a power cord to go from the fascia to the kato plug.

I can tell you it is cheaper to create a bus with power poles than it is to have to buy the KATO plugs.  My club at the time priced it out and said nope too expensive since we already had a huge supply of power poles.  And the bus standards call for power poles anyway further down the line.  IF you set up with them now you are expected to bring an adapter to connect to their bus if you don't have power poles installed and well aware of it ahead of time.  They have a handful of adapters if you show up without your own but you are expected to have it next time you bring modules and they will help you make it if you ask.

[John]

We do have a propensity to re-engineer things


That said, I do like the idea of using PP connectors out the back.  Seems like a simple idea that meets a need

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't even have a visual for how the powerpoles are used or what they're used for.

As a substitute for the Kato plugs that are harder to find and only available from Kato. And also to make infrastructure sharable between T-TRAK and NTRAK.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I made a drawing to explain the basic theory.

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