Wiring question

[jacon12]

Jarrell: there is a product Called EURO BLOCK that is sold by the RS. It is half the price of a barrier strip (that is what you have pictured) You can buy them in 12 position and CUT them apart with side cutters into blocks of (4) and then fasten them under the layout where you need them. They come in 3 sizes and are a lot easer to use. I have them for everything from #10 to #28 and all work great.

The Barrier is good at the head end by the control panel for multi outputs or just to split the output from the booster to multi points.

Hope this helps you.

George, I’m using this to terminate the main bus wires into. I’m dividing the layout into two blocks and the digitrax dch50 will be attached to the terminal (barrier) strip.

I’ll google Euro Block and read up on them.

Thanks,

[rrinker]

Randy, no I’m soldering the feeder wires to the rail and to the bus wire. I also have the kind of wire stripper you’re talking about. That thing still amazes me… [:)]

Yes, you’re right… I’m dividing the layout into two blocks and those wires terminate at the terminale strips. I think what I have will work with a little modification, if not I’ll undo it and keep hunting for a larger strip.

“For now I just jumpered each bus run together to make one big power district”.

What size wire did you use to jumper each of your buses together (for now) and how did you attach it to your bus wires?

Thanks for the input!

Lemme think, since I haven’t looked under the layout for a while - I think I have an 8-position terminal block. I have three sets of bus wires around my layout, I was going to make 3 power districts (probably overkill, it’s only an 8x12 layout), outside loop, inside loop, and the yard and other sidings. That takes 6 positions out of the 8. The first two, I connect to the output of my Zephyr. Everythign is #12 wire, that’s about as big will fit in the terminal block ont he Zephyr. The other end I have crimped and soldered spade connectors. On the opposite side of the terminal strip (believe me, the jumper block thing would be easier to use), I have jumpers from position 1 to 3, and from 2 to 4. Then I have jumpers from 3 to 5 and from 4 to 6. And finally, 5 to 7 and 6 to 8. Positions 3,4,5,and 6 each end up with two spade connectors under each screw - the jumper from the previous pair and the jumper to the next pair. The jumpers are just pieces of #12 wire, each the appropriate color to keep things straight, with spade connectors crimped and soldered. About 6 inches long. Don;t try that with #10 wire, you’ll have a heck of a time bending it that small to jumper adjacent terminals. #12 was hard enough - it works fine but the nice one piece metal jumper block is naturally MUCH easier.

Oh yeah - Homer

[GearDrivenSteam]

http://digikey.com/ 'nuff said.

[SilverSpike]

I just moved from New Orleans in January and both Lowe’s and HD had the 1/2" thick 4X8 Styrofoam board in stock. Here in North Carolina they carry the 1" thick stuff. Maybe you could special order it from them.