I have totally rebuilt my layout to eliminate two duck-unders, and my prior wiring is largely a total loss. My revised layout has an "E" shape, with the long portion of the "E" being 18', and the three short legs being 8'.
For this layout, I was planning to implement bus wiring, instead of the star wiring that I had previously used. Also, 15+ years ago, crawling under the table was much easier, and I may decide to wire "over the top", and hide the wires with scenery/buildings.
According to the Lionel Trains(TM) Official Blog:
"Wire comes in many sizes in solid and stranded varieties. Stranded wire is really a bundle of smaller diameter wires wound together. Wire size is indicated by a number – the larger the number, the smaller the wire. Most house wiring in No. 12, solid wire. For your layout, we recommend a No. 16 stranded bus wire with No. 18 feeders. The feeders do not have to be as large because they are not as long and it is easier to attach the smaller wire to the tracks. Stranded wire offers better electrical flow (electricity flows around a wire, not through it) and it is easier to bend. We recommend adding feeders at least every 10 to 20 feet around the track.
For lights and other low amp accessories, even smaller wire can be used on the feeders. Lighted accessories should use No. 20 or 22 wire.Phonecable works very well for switch motors. It is color coded, easily available and cheap!"
I have always used solid copper wire in a "Star" pattern for my layouts.
For simplified bus wiring, and following the Lionel instructions above, What connectors, ground bars, and terminal strips would be connected to the "Ground" bus wire that circumnavigates the train table? [I will have two mainlines, and a "bump" trolley line, and a number of lights and operating accessories. The transformer is a new Lionel brand, ZWL, I believe.]
Assuming that I do not wish to solder wires:
1. First, do i crimp a "spade" to the end of the stranded No. 16 stranded "bus wire", and then attach the wire to the ground terminal post of the new ZW transformer? If so, what size spade works well?
2. How do I make the connections around the layout to the ground bus wire referred to by Lionel? [As noted above, my revised layout has an "E" shape, with the long portion of the "E" being 18', and the three short legs being 8'.]
3. Do I use terminal strips, barrier strips, or ground bars to run feeder wires to the 3 track "loops", and to the accessories.
I've looked through my numerous reference books, and can't find a comprehensive source for information. Obviously, hobbyists use different methods, but, I am searching for something that is simple and effective.
Thanks so much!
