Im gonna start wirering my lighted buildings and lamp post on my layout. I plan on useing the accessory posts on my transformers for the power to light up the buildings and lamp post's. Is there some kind of junction I should get to connect up all the accessories, and then run the two lines to my transformer? Also how many accessories can I connect to one transformer, I have two MTH Z-1000's, and a Lionel C-80 transformer. I figure I should be able to connect every building, lamp post crossing gates, and what ever else to the accessory post of those three transformers. As usual any help will be greatly appriciated, as I have never done anything like this before.
Paul
I'm not sure what your layout looks like, but there are a couple of ways to do this.
1. Closed loop w/ splice taps: Run 14ga wire solid or stranded (14 ga can safely carry a 15a load) either in a closed loop or a single line, and tap off the 14ga with splice taps to smaller cable to your accessories. The closed loop will provide power to both sides of the cable making voltage drop minimal.
2. Bus Bar: Again run 14ga wire to a buss bar, and connect your accessories from that.
My switches are wired separate from my lights, and my operating accessories.
Hope this helps!
Kurt
Here is a pic of the inside of my control panel. I use the terminal strips from the transformers to the control buttons or to another set of terminal strips under the layout. My lights are off set of bus wires as are the tracks, the three loops having therir own bus with taps every 4 feet or so.
While wiring if I may suggest, establish and maintain a color code. With American Flyer, black is base, yellow is constant green is accesory 1 red is accesory 2 and with is usually a base to an insulated piece of track that interacts with an accesory.
Also, lable wires as you install them, and on long runs every 6 feet or so and especially where the leads pick up at a terminal strip and then go through the table to the accesory. I use the cloth type electrical tape and a ink marker with the accesory, switch number or track i.d.
It may use more wire but lay the lines neatly and securely with minimal overlap. A loop of excess wire beneath the accesory is real handy.
Use crimp connectors and terminal strips where ever possible.
Just a few things I've done or wish I'd done in the first place.
Jim
Thanks very much guys, this is a big help.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month