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I am using a lenz 100 on a 18*8 layout,main line & branch.I have a
spare lenz Compact+transformer I would like to use the compact to power
my branch line,which has 1 rail connection with the main line all ready
fitted with insulated rail joiners. Do I need to fit new bus wires and
feeds for the branch,and will trains pass branch to main line on the
same throttle. Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you Brian. Very helpfull. I do not possess a meter that will work on
DCC,can you enlighten me as to what I need,thank you. David.

Thank you Brian for your help, very usefull this group,thanks again.Dave.

If I understand your question correctly, Yes, the branch should have
bus wires seperate from the rest of the layout; feeding the output of
two boosters into each other is bad. Just be sure there is no polarity
difference at the rail gap. If your volt meter doesn't read zero volts
(AC) across the gap (of each rail) then you have a problem, switch the
wires coming off the boost, that should fix it.

Since you have a seperate set of bus wires, you need corresponding
feeders for the branch.

David,

It isn't strictly necessary to get an Accurate voltage reading (within
a few percent), although that is certainly possible. If the rails are
out of polarity, any AC meter will read something, maybe not steadily,
but it'll bounce around near, say, 10v (I'm making that number up),
While if the rails are in polarity, the reading may bounce around near
.1V. I hope you get the idea.

A simple test fixture would be a 16v (or 20 or 24) light bulb
connected to two aligator clips. Attach one clip to each side of the
rail and turn on the juice. If the light lights, switch the wires off
the booster (The branch line booster), and try again. Of course, you
turned the power off before you disconnected the feeder bus, right? If
the light still lights up, then I need to turn in my Electrical
Engineering Degree (Which will upset my mother no end!).

DCC Specialites.com makes and Tony's and Walthers sells, is a thing
call the RRAmpMeter, which can measure True RMS voltage, A thing you
need for DCC. It's not necessary for this project, but if the boosters
are too far out of amplitude with each other, you may want to set
your booster's output voltage. It is unclear to me whether Motor
Starting voltage is in actual volts, or a relative range. For a given
system, the two are indistingushable(sp?) from each other. However, if
MY system is set at 12.2v and YOURs is set at 18.7v, will our Locos
run significantly differently? Does it matter? But I digress.

Another thing that will tell you if the rails are in polarity or not,
is to run a loco over the gap. If its stops, you have a problem. :-)

Let me know if you have trouble when you actually hook it all up.

David,
There is one thing I assumed.

Can the Lenz Compact be connected as a booster? Can you plug the command bus from the Lenz 100 into the Compact? If you don't know this, you'll have to check on the Lenz site.

If they can't be interconnected, then you will essentially have two independent railroads. When a loco drives across the gap, it'll stop, but there will be no short. You'll have to pick up a throttle connected to the other controller, and drive away....

Brian, as my branch line is really a preserved line with a main line
connection, engines crossing from main to branch will not be an every day
occurrence,so Iam prepared to put up with the two throttle option for now. But one more
problem has just come to light, I cant find my Compact!! I thought it was in
its box, but its empty! and I`ve spent the last hour looking for it. I will
have to re-think this idea through, the only reason I started this was to try
and avoid a short stopping the whole layout with out spending money on more
equipment. You have been very helpfull and I`ve learnt some thing in the
proccess. I dont suppose you live in Wiltshire? David.