Hello,
I find myself confused again.
I bought a power distribution block for my layout not sure how I would use it, if someone could explain its applications I would appreciate it. What is the difference bwt a power distribution block and a terminal block on a DCC layout?
Thanks
Drew T.
aet wrote: I bought a power distribution block for my layout
not sure how I would use it
What is the difference bwt a power distribution block and a terminal block on a DCC layout?
A DCC power distributor (which is what I think you have purchased), accomplishes the second goal of short circuit isolate without adding additional separate power supplies. That is it divides the output from a single DCC power supply into separate outputs that can be connected to separate blocks. They act as totally separate DCC power supplies except that they don't add additional power.
A terminal block is just a place where a power feed comes in and can have multiple leads coming out of it. It is often a set of lugs or screws on some sort of mountable strip.
Drew,
Are these the 2 items you purchased?
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
Don,
yes those are the ones
Drew
The power distribution block takes the place of two terminal strips and the need for you to create little loops of wire to feed one row of each strip. The block contacts are chained together on the PC board.
+ in one side, - in the other and all "blocks" or power districts out from 1-12 in pairs.
Functionally they are the same.
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
I use the terminal strips to connect my drop feeders (thin, phone guage wire), to my bus wires (something like 16-18 guage). At some point, even though I will switch to DCC, I will install a control panel with DPDT (center off) toggle switches to be able to disconnect certain tracks, set up a programming track, and to be able to use DC for locos that have not had decoders installed. Eventually, I plan to decoderize every loco, but with over 70 on the roster, that may take a while. Anyway, I made a couple of "daisy chains" under the layout using crimp on spade connectors, the ones where you can loosen the screw and slip them in, and tighten the screw. I simply installed 2 wires on each one before crimping (except the last one on a terminal strip). I'd post a picture, but I need a new battery for my camera.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
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Bear "It's all about having fun."
I have some that are 14 position blocks. They are quite old, not sure how old, and probably either came from some sort of industrial source, or parts for some industrial machine. My dad worked for Nabisco, and he got them from there somewhere.
I used the 8 position blocks under my layout, both because the larger ones were overkill, and also because I had the 8 position ones handy, and the others were buried in some storage box somewhere.
I use the dual-row terminal blocks in varying sizes all over my layout. You can get them from two to ten positions in one-step increments, and in two-step increments above that (12, 14, 16, etc.). I buy mine from Digi-key. I buy eight position or less because above eight positions the cost goes through the roof (so if I need more than eight positions, I divide the total by two and use two of those size blocks).
Here's a couple of example of where I use them.
Power distribution on my hidden trackage (helix in this case)- right next to the track:
Connections from my control panel to the layout:
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton