Atlas Connector - HO to O

@James Brown posted:

Does anyone know if Atlas HO Connectors can be used on an O Gauge layout?  Or do I need to buy the O-Gauge ones on Atlas' website?  They sure look the same to me, but maybe there is a difference (besides color, LOL)?  I want to be able to shut off some spurs using the 1 3/8" Fastrack piece and I think you could just wire that right to an Atlas Connector?

James,

The 'O' Gauge ones handle higher currents.  They're relatively new.  They sell them because 'O' Gauge trains, switches, and accessories being larger in size than 'HO' generally draw more current than their 'HO' equivalents.

You may or may not need the beefier ones.  It depends on how much current you're trying to switch.  With engines on spurs it could be close, especially with old ones (postwar) or larger newer ones, or multiple powered units run together, or when you also have a full train of lighted passenger cars on the spur in addition to the locomotive.

Newer and smaller locos, and trains without lighted passenger cars, should generally be fine with the traditional 'HO' version, but with anything else you should use the 'O' Gauge version just to be safe.

Mike

James - I agree with Mike. I use the HO 3-unit on/off switches only for lighting. For track power I tend towards 10 amp toggle switches.  In the photo below I have 3 banks of Atlas switches connected to individual taps (power) on a 30 watt transformer (so 10 watts each bank). They are connected though a fuse just in case. Each switch button is dedicated to one or a group of lights/accessories. I don't connect the transformer ground through the switches but run it separately as a common  ground under the layout to various points where I can connect directly to any accessory. Below the atlas switches are heavy duty SPST toggle switches for track spurs. This is where if you want to you can use the Altas O heavy duty switches. To the left are DPDT momentary switches for turnouts. I used to use the Atlas O turnout switches but had some bad experiences with switch motor burnouts so changed over to the DPDT toggles switches. Lastly on top of those are Atlas and Gargraves switches for uncouplers.