I saw something a few weeks ago about a new Tortoise 8 pin edge connector with small screw terminals on the bottom - has anybody seen the link to this item?
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
This is probably what you ae looking for: SNAPS from Accu-Lites
http://acculites.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=566&zenid=ab04977acae6ff7f62297a58bee8fdec
One thing that has always annoyed me about Tortoises is how the holes are drilled staggered instead of straight across - if they were straight across all you'd have to do is buy a terminal block like that and solder it on before installing the Tortoise - instant screw connections.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I don't have a link or even a product name. I've bought edge connectors at my LHS for Tortoise machines. The ones I have are solder terminals, not screws, but I must say that it is much easier to wire everything to a connector than it is to solder directly to the Tortoise, particularly once it's mounted beneath the layout.
At a few dollars each, these things were way overpriced, though.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
rrinkerOne thing that has always annoyed me about Tortoises is how the holes are drilled staggered instead of straight across - if they were straight across all you'd have to do is buy a terminal block like that and solder it on before installing the Tortoise - instant screw connections. --Randy
They apparently do that in order to have those solder pads around each hole, while still maintaining the (industry standard) .156 spacing.
But with that in mind, you can always drill holes in every other trace, so that you have a row of holes straight across, and solder on your terminal block.
You'd just have to be careful soldering the "self'drilled" holes, since they'd be on the narrower section of the trace and more subject to solder bridges, etc.
I've seen ones with it already done in a row - and there aren't two holes on alternate traces, so it wasn;t done after the fact. I think Circuitron once sold them that way, but it no longer shows in their catalog or price list (guess they want to sell the SMAIL decoder, which clips on and has - screw terminals!). Another option is to solder header pins for Molex connectors to the solder pads. Not being thru hole, it won;t be as strong, but since it's not likely they will be connected and disconnected constantly, it should hold up.