Video: How to wire a model railroad layout

Comments MRR
1

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Video: How to wire a model railroad layout

2

Hello Andy,

Excellent video on track wiring.

Will there be a video done on how you build your own turnouts?

3

andy

great video great tip from a expert

Thanks Hank

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How do you wire a reverse loop?

5

Hey thanks great video replaced all my wiring on my layout when I went to DCC and no more problems. Using these suitcase connectors made the job a snap and no more soldering from under the layout!

I found another use for these suitcase connectors. Outside low, repeat LOW voltage landscaping lights. If you have them you know the connectors on them do not work reliabily. I replaced all of mine with the brown suit case connectors and no more problems.

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great video and tip

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Hello Andy,
I’m just starting my layout.I need to know how to wire the layout.Thank you for the nice tips.

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Hi Andy, well it’s that time and I’ll be using your wiring method. Only problem Im having so far is finding a source for the bare 22GA wire??
Can you suggest a source or maybe where you get it from.
Much Thanks
Greg

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GREG you can get the wire u are looking for from MOUSER .com

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Thanks for straight talk and illustrating how it’s done! One of the best videos on model rr wiring!.. Larry W

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Great tips! I would love to have a how to from Andy on how he makes his turnouts!

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How do you “drill” the hole using Music Wire? Is that the same as Piano Wire?

I bought a couple of pieces of Piano Wire, but as there are no Flutes to clear away the waste material, I’m lot 100% sure how this will work.

If the Music Wire that you are talking about is the one with a spiral wrap, I could see how that would work, as the wrap would act as flutes to remove the waste material.

Dio

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Andy,
Good video, thanks. I’ve noticed that the pros at MR use suitcase connectors, my question is: do these electrical connections remain viable over time. There seems to be some disagreement as to long term connectivity integrity using suitcase type connectors as opposed to soldering. I am about to start wiring my Atlas #29 Central Midland layout and would not like to have electrical issues caused by inferior wire connections, or any other for that matter. Your thoughts. Thank you, Ed

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Newbie of sorts here and I thought the video was highly informative. The cable ties are a great idea not only for neat organization but they also keep the wires in the connection from wiggling to prevent breakage. I had always heard never solder feeder wires to the inside of the rail but that might be significant in a smaller scale such as N.

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Dio -
Since noone has replied I will take a stab at answering your question. A lot of folks refer to small hobbyist type drill bits as music wire (drill bits) such as these http://www.harborfreight.com/high-speed-steel-micro-drill-set-piece-61526.html OR http://www.micromark.com/SearchResult.aspx?deptIdFilter=0&searchPhrase=drill+bit [example - not a recommendation for purchase].
British Standard Wire Guage is decimal based as are guitar strings which lends to the confusion but alas, you can not drill through building materials with instrument wire. A chart you can print out can be found at http://www.imperialsupplies.com/pdf/I_DrillSizeDecimalEquivalent&TapDrillChart.pdf . American wire gauge (AWG) 22 is approx .65mm so you could use a #71 standard or .8mm wire drill bit. With a self-healing roadbed like cork you could try a 1/32" drill bit - YMMV. Hope this helps.
– Bob

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Great convention coverage - made me wish I had been there.

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I would really like to see a how to on hand laying track specify hand laying turnouts with out jigs. Since Andy has done if maybe he would be willing to show us in detail