Any views or general advice for joining continuous lengths of single copper core DCC bus cable? You know, the single one coloured red or black 14 AWG (1.63mm) stuff. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Barry
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What I did was twist splice it together and then solder. After solder cools, clean it up and place a wire nut on it to cover splice.
Another method is to slip a length of appropriate size shrink tubing over one wire, do a straight line splice, solder and clean as above. Slide the tubing over the splice and apply heat from a heat gun or hair dryer.
Thanks guys, it’s what I was thinking. Funnily enough, I think heatshrinking tubing over joins to feeders is the way to go too. Very smart, very professional and very clean way to go.
Thanks again guys!
Cheers
Barry
Whichever method you use, I would solder the wires together. Nothing is more frustrating than having a connector come loose but still be in place, so that it LOOKS like it is still connected. With a good solder joint, the only thing to do is to insulate it afterwards.
I use the wire joiners from automotive applications. They have a plastic sleeve with an internal metal jacket. You crimp the joiner with a special tool you get at any auto supply outlet. It works fine and you don’t have to worry about splicing.
I’ve restored and/or rewired 4 50’s vehicles and I’ve never had one of the crimped wire joiners slip loose. I’m confident that they’ll work in an indoor train layout that receives much less stress than a 55 Chevy hot rod blasting down the 1/4 mile at 130 mph.
Barry you are in the UK use a EURO connector they are GREAT gives you a test point and can be undone if you wish. The US terminal block is the equal but not as easy as the euro version. I buy 12 position and cut then into pairs. That leaves a screw hole to mount them.
Cheers
George P.
A 55 Chevy doing 130 mph in the 1/4 mile?? Was a Mopar pushing it?? (That should open a can of worms… ) [:D]
No cops wher chasing it [:D][:D][:D]
Just wire nuts, same as any other electrical connection in the house.
[#ditto] Just what I was thinking. Electricians have wired millions of houses for decades with nothing but wire nuts (one brand name is Marrettes) and the smallest wire they work with is #14.
I use Eurostyle FEED-THROUGH TERMINAL STRIPS