Quote: A little suggestion, especially if DCC may be in your future, do this to both rails and isolate both rails at the end of your electrical blocks. Most people that convert existing layouts and equipment to DCC do it in stages, so this change will allow you to "phase in" the DCC as you convert engines, and allow you to still run the DC engines before conversion. A simple cab selector switch will let you change each block to either DC control or DCC.
The use of Atlas Selector switch banks locks one into common rail wiring. The Atlas Selector switches are only SPDT center-off, mounted in groups of 4 in single box.
This is not the problem many DCC adherents think it is. As long as there is only ONE DCC booster involved, subdividing the single power district into common rail blocks has no detrimental effect, and will assist in trouble-shooting. Double rail isolation is only needed between multiple power districts, each of which is powered by its own booster. Layouts that typically use Atlas Selectors for block control don't have reason for more than one booster when converted to DCC.
Operating adjacent blocks on DCC and DC is a dangerous practice. Anytime metal wheels span the block boundaries the 2 different systems are electrically linked, and ugly things can happen if the DCC circuit breaker doesn't kick in immediately. All blocks should be selected to either DC or DCC, but not a mixture. DC locomotives should be removed from the track when operating on DCC to avoid burning out motors.
hope this helps and makes sense
Fred W
Soundsl like you're talking about a standard terminal strip. These have been around for years. Radio Shack has them, along with the jumper to make it a single output. The strip:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103231&cp=&sr=1&kw=terminal+strip&origkw=terminal+strip&parentPage=search
And the jumper:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103227&cp=&sr=1&kw=terminal+strip&origkw=terminal+strip&parentPage=search
Or the more common Barrier strip:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103229&cp=&sr=1&kw=terminal+strip&origkw=terminal+strip&parentPage=search
I use Radio Shack as an example, they're easy to find on the web for illustration.
Insert the jumper into one side of the terminal strip, along with the connection to the power pack, then bring the 7 individual feeds into the terminals on the other side of the strip.
A little suggestion, especially if DCC may be in your future, do this to both rails and isolate both rails at the end of your electrical blocks. Most people that convert existing layouts and equipment to DCC do it in stages, so this change will allow you to "phase in" the DCC as you convert engines, and allow you to still run the DC engines before conversion. A simple cab selector switch will let you change each block to either DC control or DCC.
Sounds to me that you are looking for some sort of terminal strip arrangement. There was a recent thread about bus bars that should give you some ideas: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/139685.aspx
Scroll through that thread and you'll see some different arrangements, some home made, and some showing a connection piece that is used on a commercial terminal strip to join a group of points to one common inlet connection point.
regards
Proposed Set up: HO, DC, 2 cab , Atlas Track Terminals & Selectors. Wiring methodology per their book.
I need to run a 16swg Common wire from each of 7 Track Terminals to a 'Junction'.
From the 'Junction' I want to run a single 16swg 'Common' wire to the Cab powerpack connection.
To keep it tidy I would like to find some sort of 'Joiner' unit or 'block' that allows me to run in the 7 Common wires & run out the single. Ideally with 'screw down' or some sort of connecting method that avoids soldering.
Anything like that out there?
Thanks
Tanked