Hi all, don't post much, but just wanted to mark this mile-stone event with a public thanks for all the great info here on the boards and at my LHS. Yesterday, after many, many, months of reading, learning, and purchasing items I had a day of firsts. Soldered track for the first time (came out rather nice too!) Ran a 50 foot buss line (14 guage) with three feeders (18 guage) attaching it to my track (THAT was hard!) Programmed a DCC decoder for the first time - one of my two UP Turbine's. THAT was nerve racking! But went smooooth :O) And then ran #73 around the track for the first time with only one dead spot. After a bit of inspection, re-soldered a joint, cleaned the track at the dead spot and she ran like a dream!!! It was VERY COOL! All the while ESPN was on the TV with MLB highlights of that 30 to 3 game!
What a day. So again, thanks for all the great tips, tricks and plain ‘ol common sense.
Yup! The track was layed out and such - one mainline arond the the 10x10 room for temporary set-ups to learn and pratic things. I'll be moving in the next 6 months so nothing is set. Just some plywood all around the room with the track tacked down direct to the plywood every two feet or so. The Decoder programming only took like 10 minutes once I wired up a small program track. The soldering took the longest time, but one I got the hang of it... zoom zoom zoom :O) Soldering the feeders was NOT easy and after many attempts I gave up on the last one and just used the snap track :P
Do I need to use a smaller guage to attach the feeders??? And where can I get a third hand! It would really come in handy to hold the track, solder, and iron....
I was watching the Red Sox loose (WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR) while I soldered (must have been the day for it). I was only soldering feeder wires to rail joiners, as this little portable layout is made with snap track. Got them done, but have a little more work before a test run.
Congrats on your progress
Keep having fun.
18's a little big for a feeder. 22 gauge will work. You should keep your feeders to around 3' or less. 14's fine for a buss.
PS-You did solder your feeders to the outside of the rail, right? So they don't interfere with the wheel flanges.
Loco wrote:Soldering the feeders was NOT easy and after many attempts I gave up on the last one and just used the snap track :PDo I need to use a smaller guage to attach the feeders??? And where can I get a third hand! It would really come in handy to hold the track, solder, and iron....
Soldering the feeders was NOT easy and after many attempts I gave up on the last one and just used the snap track :P
Not too big. 18 ga is about right, 20 is OK too. A 35 watt iron +- should work fine. Likely you had oxide on the rails if that end was giving you the problems. Everything must very clean including the iron tip.
If the problem was from the feeders to the buss; clean feeder and buss, wrap wire and apply the iron squarely.
Also make sure that you are using electronics grade 60/40 rosin core solder. If you only have solid solder just use a dab of (rosin) paste flux.
Soldering should get easier with practice.
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
I'm with Lothar on this one. I'd use 22 gauge instead of 18 unless your feeders are really far apart. 22 ga is both easier to solder and it's easier to hide when you get around to ballasting the track. There is actually a third hand tool you can buy. Harbor Freight usually has them for about ten bucks. It's two alligator clips mounted on a swivel base with a magnifying glass in the middle. I've used it many times for a lot of things, including making soldering a little easier. A good tool for a hobby workbench.
30 runs! Pretty amazing performance.
All I did was get a box via UPS from M.B. Klein...and the usual dirty looks and nasty comments from my wife that usually accompany such a delivery.