Dennis,
? Boosters provide power.? Breakers are used to divide up your layout into smaller pieces of
"operationally separated districts" - in order to limit the number of times that someone causing a
short affects others.? Booster districts will power large areas of the layout.? Breaker districts
smaller, use defined, segments.
? Most layouts have a rule (practice) that -all- track is protected by DCC circuit breakers - and
attempt to never have the breaker in the booster trip.? The breaker in the booster is there to
prevent the booster from self-destructing due to heat.? The DCC circuit breakers keep those
user caused shorts from 'getting to the booster'.
? Finally, many layouts use "detection" where they want a section of track, an interlocking, etc.
to be able to be 'sensed' separately ... for signaling or simply to light up an LED on a panel
to let you know a track is occupied.? The result of this part (detection) is that we often end up
with just as many "blocks" in DCC as we had in DC.? And, if you are doing signaling or?
train automation, even more blocks than with DC.
? Does this help/answer your question?? If it does not then perhaps we can set up a time
for you and I to talk on the phone?? (This offer is available to others as well.)
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jim in the PNW
? Does this make sense?
Jim Betz