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Plug-and-socket Connectors - MRR Harbor Railroad Project

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  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Thursday, April 10, 2014 4:48 PM

Just put one of these signs near the lift out, outlet:

Danger 13200 Volts Sign
I doubt anyone will use the outlet for anything. Yes
Frank
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1,317 posts
Posted by Seamonster on Thursday, April 10, 2014 4:07 PM

farrellaa

Dave,

Just one more option is to use standard house outlets and plugs. I know it is overkill but if one had them on hand they would also work it you were on a STRICT BUDGET. 

   -Bob

 

NO, NO, NEVER!  Some time, somewhere, someone is going to think it's an electrical plug and socket and put 120 volts on your layout and whatever is on the track.  Never never use house electrical plugs and sockets for anything other than what they are intended for.  Be safe.

 

..... Bob

Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)

I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)

Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 11:47 PM
 
Frank
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 10:50 PM

Dave,

Just one more option is to use standard house outlets and plugs. I know it is overkill but if one had them on hand they would also work it you were on a STRICT BUDGET. 

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Central Wisconsin
  • 66 posts
Posted by DMarker on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 9:24 PM

The clearance trailer connectors I picked up are four-pin connectors.  So obviously, they'd work better on a lift-out for a double-track mainline, but my layout is a single-track main.Smile

Since the MRR article noted the Ideal connectors from The Home Depot, I thought I'd check them out but couldn't find anything on the web.

Two votes for the trailer connectors and since I got them already, that's the way I'll go.

Thanks again!

Dave

Dave
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1,317 posts
Posted by Seamonster on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 5:12 PM

Why not use the trailer connectors?  They're not expensive, they're sturdy, they're polarized so you can't join them backwards, the wires are colour-coded and you've already got them.

 

..... Bob

Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)

I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)

Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 9:38 AM

I used a 2-wire auto-trailer connector for the most recent lift-off I built.  They aren't expensive, and they're very robust.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Westchester NY
  • 1,747 posts
Posted by retsignalmtr on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 5:35 AM

Anderson Power Pole connectors may be what you need. Look at powerwerks.com. I have been using them for several years to replace Cinch Jones connectors between modules and other locations where I need an easily removable connection. The contact is crimped on and the housings are made in several colors for color coding if desired.

N-Trak has an R/P that recommends power pole contacts for new modules. 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Central Wisconsin
  • 66 posts
Plug-and-socket Connectors - MRR Harbor Railroad Project
Posted by DMarker on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 10:17 PM

In part 1 of Model Railroader's Harbor Railroad project layout, there is reference to plug-and-socket type connectors from a company called Ideal, used to connect the bus lines for the two configurations of the layout.  I searched without success to learn more about these things.  Anyone familiar with these connectors?

I guess my more general question is what's your experience/advice on connectors for a lift-out?  I picked up some vehicle/trailer plugs on clearance at Menards awhile back, but they seem like overkill.  (Right now I just have hard-wired from a terminal strip on the lift-out to a terminal strip on the layout, so they're more like duck-unders than lift-outs - which is gonna get old.)

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Dave

 

Dave

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