wireing terminal help!

[Anonymous]

hello everyone, im now in the process of wireing my HO 4' x 8' Great Eastern Trunk, with some modifications... of course. anyways, i purchased from Radio Shack today, the 12 pole terminal strips for my wireing, problem is .. that im not sure the best way to run the wires. the terminal strip poles connect from top to bottom, not left to right. i know i need a common connection, as well as a feed for each block. do i need to run a single common from each block to the terminal strip, and then attach my feeder lines from the same block above it? can someone please explain to me the simpleist and neatest method for useing block wireing and terminal strip connectors?
thanks![:)]
steve

[cpcolin]

First of all are they the white european terminals or the black barrier type with screw terminals? I use the black barrier type. You can connect them from left to right and raido shack sells jumpers, strips that insert into these barriers for running power from one source. They can mounted to the benchwork. If you have a chance go to radio shack's web site and search for terminal strips. Sorry I could not be more help.

[Anonymous]

hello cpcolin, and thanks for the quick reply. i have the black barrier, but they connect top to bottom. they have the screws in the terminals. i just need to know the easiest way to wire it all. how could i make my own jumpers?

thanks!

[cpcolin]

Hey Stephen sorry I did not back to you sooner. First of all are you going to "jump" within the terminal strip. If that is the case you do not need to make your own jumpers. Radio Shack sells the metal jumpers already. If you are going to assign blocks to the layout I would use the barriers as a common run. this means that they are not switched. Plus I would color code my wires. I use white as my common and black as my hot or wire attached to the switch. Here is the webpage that may help you at Radio Shack. http://www.radioshack.com/search.asp?find=terminal+barriers&SRC=1 You may also want to purchase a book on how to wire a model rairoad. The books may help you with all sorts of teminology. Also some ATLAS products have wireing directions on them. It is really important to take your time and be patient with this. Good luck

[willy6]

make your own jumpers like i did.take solid copper wire(#22/20) strip each end, make a "U" shape and insert as necessary to connect.