Help me identify black plastic clip on Athearn Ready to Roll

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I was working on an Athearn Ready to Roll loco and had removed the black plastic clips that are used to attach the lighting wires to the small circuit board. Here is a picture of one of them:

Could someone please help me identify what these are called or get a part number so I can order new clips?

My parts table got overturned and they bounced away.

Thank you.

2

You can order new clips or pass the bare wire through the hole in the tab and wrap it around or you can solder the wire to the tab.

3

Thanks Jeff. Do you know what these clips are called so I can order some new ones?

4

I have a bunch of these in my electrical parts drawer. I will send you a couple if you give my your address. I remove them and solder all my wires when replacing with decoders.

-Bob

5

I put some in the mail today.

-Bob

6

Thanks so much Bob!

7

The problem with these clips is the wire doesn’t always contact the tab on the PC board enough. Then you run into issues with the loco stalling running badly. I solder all the wires to the decoders I install. Joe

8

Sorry to be repetitive but I want to echo other comments- I had a beautiful new GP15 and I cleaned the track and cleaned the wheels and repeated 15 times. Still the loco stuttered a lot. I got rid of the clips and soldered. Voila.

I now do not let any clips hang out in my locos. the first time I need to open the shell for any reason I remove e clips and solder.

9

NPO1,

If I may add,‘‘Amen’’…

Cheers,

Frank [bow]

10

So true, although high amps aren’t running through these connections, you may have electrical contact, however, for a solid connection solder is the best insurance. If using these and from a few removal and install, the “pressure” of the contact is weakened and can fail. If you still use them and the slip fit is a bit loose, retin the wire to add size to gain a better “jam” fit on install. This will usually show troubles after removal or for a decoder install. If installing new or cut wire showing only strands, you really need to tin the wire to ensure good contact. I would just solder and be done with it…

11

I think the OP wanted to remove and replace the wires repeatedly for testing purposes and therefore didn’t want to solder the connections.

-Bob

12

Bob,

Good point!!! I had a feeling,that is what he wanted them for also…!?

Cheers,

Frank

13

That is exactly true - Thank you. This train will be a bit of a frankenstein for a while and I’ll need to take the top all the way on and off from time to time.