Soldered connections, and terminal strips with crimp connection (which I then solder, even though I use a proper crimp too for them). All run at least as neatly as Sheldon's picture, though I try to keep it even more orderly. Labels everywhere.
Even if I would use those lever blocks, they would be mounted to a swing-down panel in neat rows, not just left dangling.
I did do some industrial control work, but more of my work time has been spent with servers and network systems, and if there's one thing I can;t stand, it's a rack full of servers with network, power, and KVM cables coming out all over the place. It's just asking to take down half of someone's network all because you need to slide one server out for maintenance. Racks have channels and most rack mount equipment has cable management arms to keep all that stuff nice and neatly bundled and each server's wires away from the others. Neatness does count, even for model railroads. You may think you remember where everything goes - today, two days after you hooked it up. But what about 2 years from now? I actually have a pretty good memory, and I may indeed remember it all in the future - but I'd also rather just have it all labeled and recorded <now where did I put the wiring notebook...> so I can instantly see both ends of a suspect circuit, rather then crawl around tugging wires to trace the line from source to destination. It takes just an extra minute to record the information as you add connections - it can save HOURS in the future when a problem crops up.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
mlehman Yeah, people do have opinions, even if they've never had one in hand before. I haven't, but I can definitely see uses for them, especially since they're reusuable. For instance, I like to move things around sometimes before I find an arrangement of track I like or because reconfiguiring something makes for better ops. Installing these to start with could get things operational, then you can adjust as needed. Once finalized, you could probably go for more permanent connections easily and systematically. For me, that would most likely mean wire nuts. I think they'd be especially handy on modules for me. I have some plans I'll get to someday and this would work well for me to do that. Leave things long on the feeders. Then as you finalize, you tidy and tigheten things to avoid that "droopy" look Sheldon notes is annoying.
Yeah, people do have opinions, even if they've never had one in hand before. I haven't, but I can definitely see uses for them, especially since they're reusuable. For instance, I like to move things around sometimes before I find an arrangement of track I like or because reconfiguiring something makes for better ops. Installing these to start with could get things operational, then you can adjust as needed. Once finalized, you could probably go for more permanent connections easily and systematically. For me, that would most likely mean wire nuts.
I think they'd be especially handy on modules for me. I have some plans I'll get to someday and this would work well for me to do that. Leave things long on the feeders. Then as you finalize, you tidy and tigheten things to avoid that "droopy" look Sheldon notes is annoying.
Everybody has their own "style' of working, but coming from an architecture, engineering and construction background, I prefer to plan things and then only do them once.
"Temporary" is in my view a last resort when necessary, and waste of time and resources other wise - planning minimizes changes and temporary - at least in my world.
Those look like nice little connectors, and like I said there are situations for which they are well suited, including the application as shown.
My point, and if I may speak for Chuck as well, is that overall there are good reasons to approach electrical wiring from a more disciplined approach - trouble shooting - and possible future changes - being two very good ones, not to mention durablity and long term reliability.
Walk into any factory in the world, open up the control panel that runs whatever kind of machines they have, you will not find a rats nest of wires run willy nilly, you will find neat, bundled, labled, secure wiring - why would we want less for our model empires?
Sheldon
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Another problem with these and suitcase connectors is that you can't put a meter on the connection.
On my module, I started with old school barrier strips:
along with non-insulated crimp on lugs:
I use the non-insulated because I believe they give a better crimp. And I use the official crimping tool.
But lately I've been trying these:
You don't have to use crimp-ons, and it's easy to disconnect wires. Although the ends do get squished, so you can't do it many times (as opposed to the crimp-ons). Also, with this style, you can easily cut them to length. I buy the "twelvesess" and cut them down as necessary. Unlike the old style barrier strips, these don't have jumpers available so that you can gang a connection. I just use a short piece of wire, but it ain't elegant.
But with both styles, you have access for testing.
Soldering works quite nicely until you need to disassemble the connection. And wire nuts work nicely, except they tend to chew up the wire.
Ed
As a life long member of the electrical trade, for some 40 years now, connectors of this type have some value in very specific applications.
BUT , they will never replace the "wirenut" for basic branch circuit building wiring, and will never replace some form of fixed terminal strip for control wiring.
Since I don't use DCC, I have little use for the "buss wire" application and have to agree with Chuck, I have never cared for that sort of "free dangling" wiring.
Not necessarily my neatest work, I would consider this picture the bare minimum requirement for wiring neatness:
But similar to Chuck, I have a backgorund in industrial control wiring.... As for suitcase connectors - NEVER in my world. Sheldon
But similar to Chuck, I have a backgorund in industrial control wiring....
As for suitcase connectors - NEVER in my world.
My company uses them in manufacturing, they are a great lasting, well designed product.
A second opinion from someone who actually has experience with them.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Expensive and lots of mechanical things to go wrong. No thanks. Strip and solder, works forever, costs nothing.
Okay, I guess, if you don't want or need the ability to positively identify a wire and have that kind of money to use. My screw, washer and nut stud terminals on home-fabricated terminal blocks cost about two cents per connection, They also create a much neater and more professional look.
Part of that is my USAF flight line background speaking. Flying (through the air) junctions and combat aircraft electricals don't mix.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with bulletproof electricals)
These are WAGO brand Wire Lever Nuts part no. 222-415. This part no. is good for wire gauges 28 - 12 AWG (stranded and solid) and 600 V / 20 A maximum.
They can be had at the local big box hardware stores for about the same price as Amazon @ $22 for 40 pcs. Its becoming a favortie amoung electrician doing house wiring ( from what I have read ).
Whats nice about these is you do not cut into your bus wire sheathing like you do with the suitcase type connectors. Also, just a simple flip of the lever for the coresponding wire and it is easily removed. Once lever is locked down, they hold the wire firmly.
Below shows the bus wire coming in one side and out the other with 2 feeders in the middle:
Below shows how I daisy chained them to get 16 feeders ( 8 of each polarity ), Pic was before I added the bus wires: