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Electrical Blocks

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  • Member since
    March 2013
  • From: Hixson (Chattanooga), Tn.
  • 99 posts
Electrical Blocks
Posted by daff on Saturday, April 6, 2013 10:36 PM

I am getting ready to create some block on my n scale.  Will the same connectors, etc that are used in HO be used with N?

I am using Bachman EZ Track.

Thnx

Big Smile

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central Vermont
  • 4,565 posts
Posted by cowman on Saturday, April 6, 2013 10:47 PM

I understand they can be used, but only if you carefully pinch them together.  I'd say it would not be recommended.  The HO insulated ones probably would not work for N, they'd be too big.  For HO, I understand that there is even a difference in brands, as the web may not be the same thickness (not sure about N), but that is not as much of a difference as there is between HO and N.  The HO joiners would be large and might cause wheel flanges to ride up and cause derailments.

I'd recommend getting a package or two of insulated joiners for N and at least one of regular joiners.  If a metal joiner gets damaged, it can be very difficult to get it back so that you can be sure it will conduct electricity properly.  New ones would be cheap insurance.

Good luck,

Richard

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 1,206 posts
Posted by mfm37 on Sunday, April 7, 2013 4:26 AM

You will need connectors that fit N Scale track.

Martin Myers

  • Member since
    December 2012
  • 70 posts
Posted by JHinPA on Sunday, April 7, 2013 7:07 AM

Daff, I am not sure if you are asking if an HO rail joiner can be used with N scale track or if you just wanna know if the N scale joiners are just like the HO ones. For the first part the answer is no you cannot use the HO joiners on N scale track they are way to big. For the second part the answer is yes , they make the same joiners for N scale. You will need metal joiners for your common rail and plastic joiners for your block rail.I am not sure how easy it will be to get the plastic ones on the rail ends ( I model in HO and those are hard to get on) , Someone suggested in one of my posts that I try leaving the plastic joiner off lay my track fasten it all down and then use a small cutoff wheel to cut the two rails where there was no joiner that leaves enough space so no current travels but is not to big that engines and cars derail. I tried it and so far everything works great! Hope this helps you with your question , JOE

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by JoeinPA on Sunday, April 7, 2013 8:11 AM

Cutting the rail is a good way to isolate blocks but be sure to insert a small piece of styrene, etc into the cut to keep it from coming back together. Just put the piece into the cut with some ACC and after it dries carefully file it to the shape of the rail head.

Joe

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Westchester NY
  • 1,747 posts
Posted by retsignalmtr on Sunday, April 7, 2013 10:11 AM

If you can remove the joiner on the easy track you can replace it with an N gauge insulated joiner. I would recommend the Peco insulated rail joiners as they are smaller, made of clear plastic and cannot be easily seen. If there are IJ's for the Bachmann track you might be better off using them. I usually just cut gaps in the rails and glue a piece of styrene in the gap with CA then file the plastic to the rails shape

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