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Interesting power strip

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  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Thursday, March 31, 2016 5:19 PM

By the time I total accessory power AC, tool and work light outlets and (isolated AC feed) power for DC controllers I can max that 12 outlet thing without leaving the first peninsula.

So I started with a GFI tool and worklight outlet and adjacent master switch.  The dual outlet facing inward behind the switch handles accessory power.  The master rail power distribution system starts at the next set of outlets - two for tool/worklight use, four for track power (CTC panels for two railroads, each with two dedicated power packs) and two for switch machine/accessory power.

The daisy chain continues around the layout, clusters of six (or more) outlets at a time at each station.  Since some of the far end of the layout is still undeveloped territory I'm not sure how many outlets will eventually be installed.

And now the kicker.  The hardware is low-cost standard house wiring material from the local big box home improvement emporium.  With 24 separate outlets currently available I suspect that I'm providing outlets that are turned off from that single master switch at about half the cost of the twelve outlet monster.  Also, since they are decentralized (and the connecting 120vac wiring is secured in wiring runs) there's no 'spider' of AC cords emanating from a single blurred point.  Once a 120VAC plug is inserted in a socket, the slack is rolled up, tied off and secured to the layout frame - usually inside a wire run.

As of this moment, there are two 120vac cords on the garage floor.  One powers a floor lamp that provides close-in illumination at my present job site.  The other is the cord for my portable utility light.

I don't include the half-dozen theatrical lighting power strips and fifty yards of as-yet-uninstalled three conductor outdoor cable piled up in the far corner.  Whether those things will be put to use or end up in recycling is still an open question.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with 120VAC systems that meet local code requirements)

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Thursday, March 31, 2016 4:49 PM

No that is not it.  The one I have had two rows of six outlets.  The master one is green and the slaves are a different color. The always on outlets are a third color.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, March 31, 2016 1:33 PM
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Interesting power strip
Posted by ndbprr on Thursday, March 31, 2016 4:04 AM
Ran out of outlets in my office and decided to take care of the spaghetti bowl around my pc. Staples had a power strip with 12 outlets for $54.00. Six are hot all the time. The other six are one master outlet and five slaves.
Turn on what is connected to the master and the other five power up. Shut off the master and they power down. Should make it possible to use one switch to turn on or off a model railroad.

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