wire connectors

What kind of wire disconnects can be used with AWG 22 brass wire for a lift out section ? 

Chuck P's picture

PowerPoles?

They go to AWG 20. Might be able to squeeze in a 22. Some people have luck folding them over.

HO - Western New York - 1987 era
"When your memories are greater than your dreams, joy will begin to fade."

Anderson Powerpole Connectors

As nydepot stated Powerpole® Connectors are a good option and with the addition of a little shrink-wrap can be used with #22 and even #24 wire. However, proper assembly does require purchasing a crimp tool (TRIcrimp, the ideal Powerpole Crimping Tool for 15, 30 and 45 amp contacts) which if you only need a few connectors makes Powerpoles fairly expensive. For #22 and #24 wire crimp the wire in the terminal (for instructions, Click Here ) and then secure with a short piece of shrink-wrap as a strain relief before inserting in housing. If cost is a big issue, I would suggest finding (scrounging) some of the old 2 pin Cinch-Jones (TRW#P302 & S302) or Radio Shack plug (#274-201 & 274-202) connectors or something similar.

Note: Anderson Powerpoles have replaced the old 2 pin Cinch-Jones as the preferred connectors on NTRAK modules. See the NTRAK Wiring and Connectors Recommended Practice page for additional information and guidance.

Ken K

"What kind of wire

"What kind of wire disconnects can be used with AWG 22 brass wire for a lift out section ? "

 For a typical lift out I prefer to just  put contact strips on each end and let the lift out be it's own wiring. I've used metal spring clips or just matching strips of brass for contacts......DaveB

jones plug

Sorry I suggested the ac plug, Ive removed the rest of the comment so that it doesnt create any more issues.

 

If you need more than 3 wires, a "JONES PLUG" is a solid and reliable connector, available at most electronic suppliers. They can be 2, 4, 6, 8 or more circuits.

Randy McKenzie
Virginia Southern - Ho triple decker 32x38

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barr_ceo's picture

NO!

Why not a AC plug...

No, no, No, NO, and *&^%#&^ NO!!

NEVER use an AC plug for ANYTHING that connects directly to rail, or anything other than AC connections. You're just enabling Murphy, not to mention violating all kinds of electrical codes!!

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Bill Brillinger's picture

No...

He's right ... No, no, No, NO, and NO!!

please don't use a 110 or 220 connector for anything but 110 and 220.

- Bill
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modeling the BNML in HO Scale, Admin for the RailPro User Group, & owner of Precision Design Co.

 

Kevin Rowbotham's picture

Sheesh...

Easy guys, come down off the ledge!

While I agree it is not proper practice to use an AC plug for any other purpose than that which it was intended, you don't have to get bent out of shape over the suggestion.

Also, it's not breaking any electrical codes as they apply to residential or commercial wiring.  There is no code covering a model railroad.  Hardwire your track to the AC circuits in your house and that is breaking the electrical code, at least that is how it is in Canada.

That said, for safety sake an AC plug is a bad idea.  If someone who does not know your setup grabs an extension cord and connects it to an AC outlet, then what?  Sounds dangerous to me.

I would be tempted to take those 22 gauge wires back to a terminal strip or junction block etc. and use a heavier gauge wire to place your 'keyed' quick disconnect on.

I'm looking at having a lift up on my layout and I hope to use the same system that Crandell (Selector) used on a lift up he built.  He used metallic table leaf alignment pins to align his lift out when it dropped into position.  By connecting the feeders to the pins and the DCC buss to the pin socket he managed positive alignment with quick disconnection all in one, without any special connector.

Seemed like a smart idea to me at the time I learned of it.

~Kevin

Appreciating Modeling In All Scales but majoring in HO!

Not everybody likes me, luckily not everybody matters.

" If someone who does not

" If someone who does not know your setup grabs an extension cord and plugs in, then what?  Sounds dangerous to me."

 What would happen is their drill or whatever would get 12-18 volts and they'd know something was wrong.               I recall the puzzled look then the  laugh a building inspector had when he saw my Bose 901 speakers wired up with romex hanging from the studs of a building I was framing, around the corner the amp was tied to the other end of the run.....DaveB

MikeM's picture

Metal table alignment pins

Rockler sells these; I have a couple of packages of them to experiment with for aligning (hopefully) some swingout/up gates.

http://assets.rockler.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/720x720/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/3/2/32334-01-1000.jpg

MikeM

Kevin Rowbotham's picture

Missing the point...

 What would happen is their drill or whatever would get 12-18 volts and they'd know something was wrong.               I recall the puzzled look then the  laugh a building inspector had when he saw my Bose 801 speakers wired up with romex hanging from the studs of a building I was framing, around the corner the amp was tied to the other end of the run.....DaveB

Maybe my wording was a bit ambiguous?  The concern is not someone plugging a drill into the track.

Rather, if someone sees a male AC plug dangling from the layout they may make the mistake of using an extension cord to connect it to an AC outlet, perhaps thinking that is how the layout is powered?  I'm, thinking a child who was not supposed to be playing around in the layout room unsupervised.

We could assume that nobody would make that mistake, but assuming just makes an...I think we all know how the rest of that goes...

~Kevin

Appreciating Modeling In All Scales but majoring in HO!

Not everybody likes me, luckily not everybody matters.


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