The question from the childhood. Of course I was 'AC' then, and of course this was 'best'. But groving older means that also this truth becomes more relative. And, I guess it says something about my personality, as 'normal' people skip either AC or DC, and go for 'digital' instead (acutally, lot's of people still say that they run AC when running Märklin digital, and DC when they run DCC digital, which certainly wrong), I've instead choosen: I run all! So on my layout I have AC 16V, AC reduced voltage (for some lamps), DC, and digital. And, digital means both Märklin/Motorola and DCC.
Let me explain it like this. I have in all 5 circuits for powering my layout.
1. Is the powering of the Intellibox. One transformer dedicated to deliver 16 V AC as power to this device
2. Is the digital signal from the Intellibox. It's delivers power to all track, also the sections controlled by signals. And, the accessory decoders are also connected to this, but more to hear the info; both Viessmann and my DCC decoders are also connected to an AC source for the power to the devices.
3. Another transformer just delivers AC 16 V for switching turnouts and signals not controlled digitally, and as a power source for theses Viesmmann and DCC decoders. The load is in average very low, but momentaneos demanding.
4. The 'red' driving connection of a transformer is used to deliver adjustable current to lamps in houses etc, allowing them to be dimmed.
5. A rectifier delivers DC current, both for the brake sections, and for powering electronics of different kind; LEDs for example, some relays, etc.
So, the circuit 2-5 are used on the layout in different ways. And you may also notice that I have no use for a booster; as I save the digital power for the important tasks, there is anough of it when needed. I can run 4 trains with this, and that is just about what I can handle.
Yes. And computers mean that the office no longer need paper...
Ok, I agree, for a carpet layout, which is setup quickly, played with, and then removed, it must be marvellous with integrated decoders in the turnouts, and just two cables from track to controller. But this isn't my world.
There are cables, cables and cables. As I find it amusing to mix different techiquues, and also achieve lots of benefits, like easy to handle semi automatic control, reliable, smoth braking at occupided sections etc. Lots of cables just to let the distant signals show the correct aspect, or to show track occupancy at the operating panel. Etc.
But I underestimated the neede for coupling. So I already get unecessary problems when a connection is lost somewhere, because I wasn't very systematic when I starded cabling. And, I thought I should build the lowest plain first, the do the cabling on this (hidden) play, test it and then build higher up. Next time I will let all cabling, or at least all connections go under the lowest plane I think. It will take more cables, but it should also give better overview.
Power is at least distributed in a OK way: I use thicker cables and distribute this power to different places on the layout. I found out to use more colours than Märklin used to: beside red for digital, brown for common ground, and yellow for AC, i use green cable for DC and orange for reduced AC voltage.