Unlike the "O" gauge Remote-Control Track, the "O-27" Remote-Control Track has a USC Controller attached to the track. Based on your experience, where would you suggest would be the best place along the wire to cut for a splice? The new location for one of the remote-control tracks is too far away for the fixed wire to reach and I was wondering if the cut should be closer to the track itself or closer to the USC Controller. (Access to the wiring is not a problem) As always, many thanks.
Probably the best place is halfway from each end.
A Day Without Trains is a Day Wasted
My preference would be to avoid cutting the wire at all. Unsolder the ends of the ribbon cable from the underside of the track; solder the new wire in its place, and connect the new to the old with wire nuts. Keeps your controller and cable original, and requires half as many wire nuts as a splice in the middle would.
Use a wiring diagram to make sure you get it put back together right. This is probably the one you want (sorry, can't figure out how to make it clickable):
http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=689
If you cut the cable, it doesn't matter electrically where you cut. When I splice cables like that, I like to cut the individual wires at staggered locations, so that all the joints are not bunched up alongside each other. I think it reduces the chance of a wrong connection or a short circuit, is more compact, and just looks better.
(Just hit the space bar or "enter" key after the link.)
Bob Nelson
Thanks, guys, for the replies. Have a great and safe weekend.
Another trick is to paint one of the wires where you cut it and make your connections with a terminal strip.
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