Some speaker wire comes with connectors on one end, black and red, which end in a long pin which is easily bent to fit through the holes of a speaker jack. Now, what I was thinking of doing is buying those connectors attaching them to one end each of the input 14 AWG wires to my Zephyr. It seems much easier than constantly connecting and disconnecting bare wires from the Zephyr. While I am sure that most people just connect the bare wires and leave them on, my preference is for something a little more “portable” as it were. Would there be a problem going this way in terms of the signal to the rails? Those pin connectors are certainly not close to 14 AWG.
There are many different types of connectors that would work. Radio Shack carries a bunch. I personally just use those crimp on fork spades on the ends of my wires. Some folks use male/female plugs so they can swap their Dc controller for DCC easier. Shouldn’t have any effect on the signal as long as buy quality connectors.
Why do you have to hook and unhook your wires so much?
Because I did not really do a good job of thinking about the control panel when I designed my layout. Until the scenery and a couple of tracks are laid at that location, I would be leaning over another 12 inches or so and into the Zephyr. And those spade connectors won’t work on a Zephyr. In fact, that appears to be the only gripe I have about the system, I would prefer screw terminals.
Hey Bear
How about Ebaying the zepher and using a Power Cab? Or can you hook up a portable throttle to the zepher?
Pete
Bear,
You can unplug the whole connector from the back of the Zephyr instead of removing the individual wires.
Getting rid of the Zephyr is not an option, although eventually I plan on getting two more throttles. As for unplugging the connector, that would be an option. I assume just giving it a good tug will work?