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Electrical help

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  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Seaford, Va.
  • 72 posts
Electrical help
Posted by wblock on Monday, March 15, 2004 5:28 PM
Here's a simple, stupid question. I'm putting a liftout section in my layout so I can get into the room. I know I need to run power from the adjacent blocks and I've seen connections that are soldered to the rails and join in some kind of plug. What is this called and is it the best way to power the lifout section?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 15, 2004 6:21 PM
My last layout had a lift section. I used pu***ype speaker connectors I got at Radio Shack. I had feeder wires from the liftout track coming from the bottom at each end of the liftout. When I put it in place i connected the feeders to the speaker connectors. This completed the circuit. There is probably an easier way but that is how I did it. Hope this helps.

Jeremy
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 15, 2004 6:59 PM
Buy a small gauge extension cord cut out the middle and and use the ends. Strip 'em and solder them one to bridge and one to the track. Also the polarized ends will keep track polarity right providing you solder them to the right rails.
good luck!
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: San Jose, California
  • 3,154 posts
Posted by nfmisso on Monday, March 15, 2004 7:39 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Buy a small gauge extension cord cut out the middle and and use the ends. Strip 'em and solder them one to bridge and one to the track. Also the polarized ends will keep track polarity right providing you solder them to the right rails.
good luck!

Do NOT do this, someone will come along and plug it in......trust me on this.

Banana plugs and jacks work well, and there are various other connectors around. If you are only doing one or two connections, Radio Shack makes sense, they have quite a few connectors that are suitable. You want to a polarized connector so that you do not plug it in backwards. The power card for the drivers in a PC is another good one.
Nigel N&W in HO scale, 1950 - 1955 (..and some a bit newer too) Now in San Jose, California
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 15, 2004 7:48 PM
In my house I'd say serves you right! it's like jeff Foxworthy said" you want to put a penny in the light socket go right ahead........hurt like hell didn't it! you wont do that again will ya. LOL
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 15, 2004 8:17 PM
Dean's Ultra Plugs are my favorite to use. I also use them for R/C car racing, and they can handle a lot of current. They are easy to use and install, and they have a pretty low profile.



You can find them at http://www.wsdeans.com/products/plugs/ultra_plug.html but you will have to buy them at a hobby shop. Any shop that also carries R/C cars will have them.

If you use these, make sure to use the female end on the side that the power is coming from, or the plug could short out on something when it is not plaugged in.

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