I recently just bought 3 10 screw terminal blocks. I plan to use these for interior and exterior lighting of my structures. But I can't seem to figure out how to wire them. I was planning on running 2 wires from my power pack to a set of screws and hooking the lighting up to the rest of the screws, but every time nothing happens. Any ideas?
You are using a terminal block when what you need is a distribution block. All a terminal block does is allow easy disconnect between the power source and the item using the power. A distribution block will allow you to "distribute" power amongst your buildings.
San Dimas Southern slideshow
This is what you want to do things the way you describe:
http://www.mesamodels.net/servlet/the-1493/Power-Distribution-Block-12/Detail
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Or you can buy jumpers for your terminal strip. With a 10 position strip put jumpers connecting 5 positions to the right and 5 positions to the left. Run your power wires (one to each side) and then your all set with 9 connections for your lights. It's what I've done and it works very well.
Dave
'there's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear' Modeling the Hard Knox Valley Railroad in HO scale http://photos.hardknoxvalley.com/
What I use is 2 ground bars and attach all the + to one and all the - to the other. I mounted them on a board to keep them separate.
Enjoy
Paul
$19 . Does anyone sell one for less money?
Pick a 4 of these 8 position jumper at Radio Shack to jumper the screws together on your terminal strips. You can cut one into shorter 3 hole lengths with snips. Use one 3 hole piece and one 8 hole strip to jumper all ten terminals or just cut them to the number needed.
I'm not understanding below from Dave, would someone have a drawing so I understand better.
Not a very good picture, but:
I don't use fancy jumper pieces, primarily because I don't have any when I need them. I just strip two pieces of wire (#20 should do) and loop them from screw to screw. If you look at the picture, you should be able to make out some black loops around the screws on the right side of the terminal strip. Then use a spade terminal to connect the two different polarities, again to the right side.
I guess I'm dense!
I see the jumpers on the right side, what I want to accomplish
DC Fixed Lighting
Assuming jumpers are on the right side, I would hookup the two wires on the right side from the transformer to the - side and + side (right side). then I would hookup two wires from the bulb to?
and what about the left side.
Thanks in advance.
solly I guess I'm dense! I see the jumpers on the right side, what I want to accomplish DC Fixed Lighting Assuming jumpers are on the right side, I would hookup the two wires on the right side from the transformer to the - side and + side (right side). then I would hookup two wires from the bulb to? and what about the left side. Thanks in advance.
What I tried to show on the right side were two lug terminals, one from the plus and one from the minus of your power supply.
There is a horizontal black line on the left side of the sketch that splits the terminal strip into two sections, half of the terminals minus on the upper half, and half of the terminals positive on the lower half.
You connect your bulb leads to the left side. One lead goes to a terminal on the minus end, and one lead goes to a terminal lead on the positive end. You can connect more that one bulb lead to each terminal. Note that all of your bulbs will be in parallel when connected to the terminal strip, assuming that you don't string multiple bulbs together in series before connecting the last lead of each string to the terminals. It is recommended that you choose bulbs that have a somewhat higher voltage rating than what your power supply is rated so that the bulbs will last longer. So that means that (wired in parallel) if your power supply can put out 12 volts, all of the bulbs will see 12 volts, so maybe you'd want to use a 14 volt rated bulb.
Thanks, I think I got it now!
I assume I should inquire, is there a better way to string lights using DC fixed or Accessories from the transformer.
solly I assume I should inquire, is there a better way to string lights using DC fixed or Accessories from the transformer.
If you are asking stringing series vs parallel, then I think you'd want parallel. In series if one burns out, then they all don't light.
If you are asking from transformer or other power supply, some folks use wall warts. These are plug into the wall transformers, come in various voltage levels, and have varying curent ratings. I think what they do is have anumber of these around the layout, concentrated in the areas where they have lighting requirements. That way they don't have to run leads from one side of the room to the other. They can also use different lights with different voltage requirements at each location and not be limited to the voltage level provided at the main transformer terminals.
In any case, they would use some sort of power distribution block similar to what we've discussed, with like bulbs all connected to the same strip.
Hello Everyone
I have three Miniatronics' 10 Screw Terminal Blocks that I want to connect to each other and have one connect back to the power supply to all three. Does it matter when connecting one miniatronics to another what positive / negative connection I should use from one miniatronics to another.
Thanks in advance
Super necro-thread. DO NOT click the link in my reply from 10 years ago, guess that company went out of business and someone else owns the domain now, a different sort of model.
To link ther terminal blocks, if you are wiring them as shown above so half is the _ side and half is the - side, just jump the + section of one strip to the + section of the next one, and likewise the - sides. If they are all mounted right next to each other, short pieces of wire should do.
If you are using AC power, and light bulbs - it won't matter, there is no + and -.
At Skycraft Parts in Orlando, Florida, the jumper terminals to convert a barrier strip into a distribution block are 0.05 each.
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If you have an electronic surplus parts store nearby, that would be an option.
Or... plan a vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort and make a stop in Skycraft when you are in O-Town!
-Kevin
Living the dream.