DCC questions

[Anonymous]

I have the quickest question. I was wandering, how do you wire bus wires? You know the wires that you connect the feeders to. Where do you first connect them, and then where do you end them. That's all I wanted to ask. Thanks!!
Zach

[Anonymous]

the bus wire will be around the layout underneath and end into a terminal strip, the strip will then be wired to the transformer, if you drop feeders every 3-4 feet and use 14 gauge for the bus and 18 guage for the feeders use the suitcase connecters and it will take no time

[jwmurrayjr]

Zach,

You can run your bus wires from a terminal strip at one end to a terminal strip at the other (Terminal strips are not necessary but they are very neat and handy). Then you can run the two wires from your DCC command station to one of the terminal strips or directly to the bus. Then you can run your feeders from the bus wherever needed.

I use quick-connect "tap-in" connectors to connect to the bus.

[nslakediv]

terminal strips are what i use for the simple reason if you need top track down a short you can simply unscrew and do the process of elimination with out cutting wires. either way.

[ClinchValleySD40]

Suitcase connectors are great - use the brown ones which are made to connect 18/20 ga drop feeders to 12/14 ga main buss.
I just put a wire nut on each wire (two wire nuts) at the end of the buss run.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nslakediv

terminal strips are what i use for the simple reason if you need top track down a short you can simply unscrew and do the process of elimination with out cutting wires. either way.

i dont understand the purpose of the terminal strips. ive been delaying wiring my layour because of my confusion on bus wiring and all of this.

so, the control power goes into the terminal strip.....and from there a single bus wire comes out that runs the length of the layout and you tap into that for the feeders? what then is the point of the terminal strip.

is there any way to run the bus into a board that will have screw taps for feeders? that would seem easier.

any help would be welcome

[jwmurrayjr]

a-nut,

Here's a simple bus (black and white) terminating at a 2-terminal strip. Track feeders are connected to the bus with blue "tap-in" (Or "suitcase") connectors. The bus is 14ga and the feeders are 18ga.



The red and green is an accessory bus.