atlas n scale switches

[Anonymous]

I am new to n scale. Have installed Atlas #6 switches, and am having trouble with those extremely tiny and delicate wires from the switch motors. What's the best way to hold them in place so they can be soldered to another, thicker wire (18 guage) leading to the control panel? I have managed to break the nearly microscopic strands on the first switch wire I've tried to solder. It can be salvaged, but before I do any more damage, can you tell me if I am missing a good technique. Twisting the tiny wire seems to break it, and so does simply bending it, because it is brittle.

[egmurphy]

George

I have manual turnouts so this is purely speculation. Normally they use thin multiconductor wire because it is more flexible not more brittle. To me it sounds like you are cutting too deeply when stripping the insulation and scoring the wires themselves. Doesn't take too much of a cut on those thin wires to make then susceptible to breaking.

Like I say, just a wild guess.

Regards

Ed

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Ed. The first time I bent the exposed end of one of the wires, to try to twist it around the exposed end of another wire, all but one of the strands broke off, which baffled me, too! I've managed to set up a jig using c clamps and wood blocks to hold the switch wire against another, thicker, wire, without having to twist them together at all, and that seems to be working for soldering. These things are just plain flimsy, though. I have 18 connections to make! Yikes! Seems to me the HO wires are thicker.