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Soldering Feeders to Bus Wires

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  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Monday, August 13, 2018 7:53 AM

I use terminal blocks to connect feeders to the buss. No soldering except the feeders to the rails, which happens on top of the layout. Buss wires are 12 gauge stranded, and feeders are much smaller - too much difference to even consider suitcase connectors (which I wouldn't consider anyway).

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 160 posts
Posted by bing&kathy on Thursday, August 23, 2018 8:55 PM

rrinker

 Do invest in one of these

https://www.tequipment.net/Ideal45-092.asp?Source=googleshopping&/?utm_content=ideal%20stripmaster&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Shopping%20Campaign(BSC)&utm_source=Bing_Yahoo&utm_medium=cpc

You can find them in the bog box stores, or on Amazon. They easily strip wire in the middle of a run, no fiddling with an ordinary stripper plus a knife. Makes things a LOT easier and quicker.

                                       --Randy

 

   Have had one of these for many, many years. I panic when I set it down and can't find it. Luck has been with me so far and have found it. Best wiring aid ever.

 

God's Best & Happy Rails to You!

Bing  (RIPRR The Route of the Buzzards)

The future: Dead Rail Society

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 156 posts
Posted by crisco1 on Sunday, December 9, 2018 7:02 PM

 I suggest not soddering your wire to your bus wires.  Its a lot easier

to use 3m 567 scotchlocks.  Run your drops to a terminal blocks. From there use 18 gauge stranded wire  and connect the  wire using 3m 567 scotchlocks to your buss wire. Its just a matter of sliding the scotchlock over the 12 gauge buss wire. Take the 18 gauge wire and slide it into the other groove.  Use the  big adjustable pliers, and press down on the crimps.

                                                                                                      Chris

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • 1,358 posts
Posted by SouthPenn on Monday, December 10, 2018 9:27 AM

I use these:

12-Point.jpg

You can get them on eBay. One for plus, one for minus. Bus wires in one of the end screws, feeders leaving from one of the other screws. I spaced them every 6' or where ever they were easy to get at without climbing under the layout. 

South Penn

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