Street/Highway Lights

[traindaddy1]

On our larger layout, we were fortunate to have been able to place a number of street and highway lights in position during the building phase while we still had access from below the structure. 

Now, we are considering adding more lights to another section of the layout.

Problem: The original lights are mounted with the wires going through the surface and connected under the layout. The next section, however, has little or no access below.

Question: Have you done or have you seen layouts where the wires from the lights were connected above ground? If so, how were the wires hidden or covered? OR would you have any suggestions?

As always, many thanks.

[TrainLarry]

Perhaps you can install some telegraph poles and string the wires on them, sort of what Lionel simulated with their 3530 Mobile Generator Car. It would look realistic, and be functional also.

Larry

[traindaddy1]

Larry: Certainly a thought. Thanks.

[dougdagrump]

If a rural area surfacemount then cover with like a berm alongside the road. For urban areas could they be covered with shrubs/lawns/sidewalks/roads/etc. Assuming that you will be using maybe 20 or 22 gauge wire if push comes to shove how about using a dremel w/attachments to cut like a trench then cover with scenery. Maybe even leave one partially exposed with a construction crew at work.

[rtraincollector]

traindaddy1

Larry: Certainly a thought. Thanks 

Here is another idea are the lights near the track if so you could run the wires under the track to a point where you could drop them under the layout 

[traindaddy1]

Great ideas. Thanks.

[lionelsoni]

Whatever method you use to hide the wire, use the track common (outside rails if 3-rail track) as the return for the lighting circuit.  Then you need to hide only 1 wire.  If you do it this way, you might want to power the lighting circuit out of phase with the track, so that the return currents through the outside rails will cancel rather than reinforce each other, reducing voltage drop.

In any case, be sure you protect the lighting circuit appropriately for the wire size that you use.  The 22 AWG that Doug mentioned above should be protected at about 4 amperes and the 20 AWG at 5 amperes.  If you go with larger wire, protect 18 AWG at about 8 amperes, 16 AWG at 10 amperes, and 14 AWG at 15 amperes.