I need a lot of barrier strips but they are expensive. So I wonder if this maybe is a solution. You only need screws and wood. You can make these in any size you want, total freedom. In the picture I have 1 row of 8 screws for the spade/ring connectors so you use the same screw for 2 connectors.
Any pros & cons?
It’s what I do. Although I add a washer between the wood and the screw head, so that the spade terminals a sandwiched between the washer and screw head.
Nick
Ok, a washer is a good idea, thanks.
Do you have any electrical problems this way or does it work well?
Back in the days… (when I had no money). I have made exactly what you are describing and they will work with no problems. I also used to use small nails and make a soldered array for a barrior strip. I used to work (summers) for Rochester Telephone Company when I was in College. The stuff I made was similar to the wiring harness used in the old X Y telephone system. I would just take the end of the wire wind it around the small nail (that was driven in to the wood) hit it with the soldering iron and it was done. Nails can be be wired together to direct power to several outputs. I used to make one type that had the nail extending through the wood and it was wired in the other side for the power ito the array. When money is a problem, you can come up with all kinds of workable solutions.
Here is a photo of the home made terminal strips that I used way back when:
I simply drove brads (small nails) through hardboard, and made a home made terminal strip. It is actually a fun project if you like to solder. The system you are suggesting will also work quite well and you can still iether make or buy premade joiners for power routing to the various screws.
Nice to hear that you like the idea.
The reason I’m thinking this way is because I will use them for my tortoises (and feeders), and I will never make any changes when they are in place. So buying expensive barrier strips seems to be overkill. I can buy me a nice loco instead [:D] That’s how expensive they are for my small layout. I can only dream of the cost for a bigger layout.
I’ve been using my system for 10 years, and never had a problem. I only use it behind the control panels. I use suitcase connectors everywhere else.
Nick
what is a suitcase connector? I have never heard this term.
This is what they look like, you can use them to connect the track feeders to the power bus.
I use these things:
http://www.oselectronics.com/ose_p113.htm
They are solder-only, of course, but you can get a good mechanical connection before you solder the wires, which is one of the secrets of reliable soldering. Actually, I found them at Radio Shack. Although the RS web site doesn’t indicate it, I think they are packaged 5 to a box, for the $1.49 price. The RS ones are 5-lug, with the center “grounded.” By grounded, they mean it is tied to the mounting tab on the bottom. Since I mount them on the wooden frame beneath the layout, they don’t end up actually grounded to anything.
Barrier strips can be confusing since all wires are adjacent in a straight line. I soon found that I needed add numbered labels to each wire for troubleshooting.
If you use screws or nails you can arrange them and not need individual identification.
Examples: 2 below the track are power feeds (colocoded), 1 under a frog is … the frog.
Spacing them out logically would be so much simpler.
I would only use the spade connectors for stranded wire.
I just made a barrier tri… strip and it works great!!!
haha nice ad for your barrier strip .
i’d like a dozen please [:)]
Does it come in decorator colors? Also, is there a choice of woods? Mahogony or teak would be nice, but if it’s just balsa or pine, well it just won’t fit my decor.
Peter: You needto stop making these “strips”…some one will bust you for indecent exposure!!!
You can get them any way you want [:D][:D][:D]