Kid Friendly Electrical Switches and Connectors

Switches you want are surface mount.

But A rotory would only require a hole , usually 1/2"-5/8" a post of 3/4" shouldnt be hard to find.

The inlne arrow shape molex type vinyl plugs are my fav actually. Its so universal its appearance is deceving. You can trim the tabs if you dont want a lock. The body lasts forever, and the pins can be replaced easy if you buy the tool to pop them out. It presses those little tabs, you can pull them all, or just one. You can pop them back in; click.

Ordering them you can get male and female plugs seperatly, so you set up say ten plugs female on the layout, but buy twenty male sets for the twenty accessories you own. Two accessories per plug. Pins come in solder and a few crimp versions, wire grab only, Or insulation grabbing too.

Pin types are the biggest factor of the effort in unplugging. Thin, solid pins tend to slide easier than thicker pins. Yep different pin types too.

Universal? Buy just one type of  the female trminal in female plug, to match the maximum pins used as supplies, then only pin the proper hole needs for the male of each accessory leaving the others blank. The female terminals (not always female plug) belongs on the supply side of any plug too This also allows a smaller male plug to be used if you wanted ( an inline 2 pin male will fit into any female, 2 pin to 8 pin (largest ??) You just need to be careful if you do that. Best to leave blanks in matchig plugs. Mentioned  just so you you could.

Heatshrink makes them look a little better but isnt needed. The more loose eccess wire between plug and wire harness wrap the better the pin and wire life at the solder/ crimp points too.

Speaker finger terminals like off the back ofa stereo can often accept  bannana plugs. I use one set of 8,  just like a telephone switch board.

EIS posted:

I am replacing my current layout with a completely kid-friendly design.  I want my grandchildren to be able to operate the layout interdependently from Grandpa.  They will even be able to change out accessories by themselves.

1) What would be an acceptable electrical connector to attach the accessories to the layout wiring.  I think RCA plugs might be the way to go for 2-wire accessories, but there may be a better solution.  Additionally, some accessories require more than two wires so I will need some other type of electrical connectors. 

Any recommendations?

2) I need some recommendations for electrical switches, both two-position and momentary, to activate the accessories.  Most switches are designed for panel mount.  I need to attach the switches to 3/4" wood near the accessory.  I looked at rubber covered foot switches, but the switches don't appear to have any easy mounting system.  I don't particularly like those white vinyl Radio Shack connectors because they are a little hard to separate and I don't think they are designed well enough for frequent use. 

Again, any recommendations?

Earl

1) I second the Molex connectors. Visit DigiKey to peruse and get some samples. They only align one way and are easy to work with and use. The wire end of the pins are selected for the wire size being used.

2) We repurposed some aluminum channel from office cubicle assemblies to mount button switches into for the layout at the InfoAge Science Museum. It is designed as a display for children (anyone) to interact by operating accessories. The channel will mount under or on the layout side board. A piece of flat acrylic could provide a mounting surface for the buttons. Both are thin enough for the panel mount devices. A landscaper/tree farmer near me (some photos here)has a holiday display with buttons mounted in acrylic.

So, a thinner mounting surface to accommodate the switches solves that problem. We acquired our buttons from eBay. some smalls and some larges. Most are momentary to preventing damaging the accessory. Some connect to relay boards with timers(eBay)

I hope that helps you get to a solution.

Woodlands Scenic has a plug and play system that is interesting.  Just Plug