Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

bus wire

2003 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
bus wire
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 7:51 AM
Hello, When running a bus wire, do you follow the track plan or just run the two wires down the center and connect from both sides, (when the track plan is a glorified dog bone) Thanks
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,300 posts
Posted by Sperandeo on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 9:36 AM
Hello "pacificnorthern,"

There's no need for bus wires to follow a track plan exactly, and you can run the busses "down the center" as you described. Just make sure that you connect the appropriate rail to the appropriate bus in each instance.

Good luck,

Andy

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine

Andy Sperandeo MODEL RAILROADER Magazine

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 10:54 AM
Thanks Andy
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 8:55 PM

andy is correct,but it will be easier for you to keep your polarity correct if you follow the track plan. i have found it much easier to wire if the wires are close to the track. good luck!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 8:25 AM
Of course, if your feeder wires from the bus to the rails are small (in AWG), you might need to worry about voltage drop if they're very long.
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1,317 posts
Posted by Seamonster on Thursday, July 3, 2003 10:02 AM
You could use light gauge, easily-hidden wires to go down through the benchwork and attach them to a 2-terminal solder lug terminal strip right where they come through the benchwork then run heavier gauge wires from the terminal strip to the bus wires.
.....Bob

..... 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
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 4, 2003 3:30 PM
Keep the small diameter wires short. Think about using a Sharpie to mark the underside where the wires appear. It helps you if you have to modify or tyroub;le shoot later. If you use terminals, think about adding an identity at the poles. It will remove the future mystery you are creating.
Lindsay

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!