@Putnam Division posted:Paul……I’m trying to think of something witty to say……..but, I’d rather just put you to work.
Remember, my goal…..I don’t want the wiring to look like this! Every time I show this picture to Tom, he gets nauseated……
.....and, that's why you'll be there!
Peter
Man Peter it Tom get that sick from yours, he would probably just up and pass out over mine! LOL
@Putnam Division posted:Paul……I’m trying to think of something witty to say……..but, I’d rather just put you to work.
Remember, my goal…..I don’t want the wiring to look like this! Every time I show this picture to Tom, he gets nauseated……
Peter
But Peter, isn't it a fact that your above wiring enabled your trains to run great?
Looking good Peter.
@mike g. posted:Wow Peter looks like your stocking up for some serious work! I hope you have your club friends coming back over!
P.S. Don't have to much FUN!
They will…
Peter
@Arnold D. Cribari posted:But Peter, isn't it a fact that your above wiring enabled your trains to run great?
They did…..but there was **** to pay when I needed to adjust something……even though all the wires were tagged and color-coated.
Peter
@leapinlarry posted:@Putnam Division, Peter, Wow, now your getting ready for the fun part of your beautiful layout, Wiring, yes this is very important, very interesting and can be a mind game planning your blocks, your control of special sidings, your control of accessories, and making plans for conventional control and of course TMCC/Legacy, and possibly your considering DCS….. We will be watching your adventure in wiring and hope you will reveal your ideas. I’ve never seen the backside of the ZWL Lionel transformer and it looks very high tech, thanks for showing this nice power supply.
Have a fun and safe trip to York, and enjoy your breakfast at, “Around the Clock Diner”, I like that restaurant very much. Also, enjoy “Quaker Steak and Lube” with all the OGR Forum friends. Cheers!
Your friend in Tennessee, Leapin Larry
Most definitely will have DCS…….I was an early adopter and I actually found my old fuse set-up that I used to put between the ZW (actually, the one one the left) and the TIU back in the spring of 2002. Those were fun days.
Check out the videos that I posted above. The O&W F3 is PS2
Thank you for your kind words.
Peter
I also dream of a nicely wired layout. There's nothing worse than the unorganized wire bundles in the old machines at work haha please share your end result!
@BillYo414 posted:I also dream of a nicely wired layout. There's nothing worse than the unorganized wire bundles in the old machines at work haha please share your end result!
The worst I ever saw was IT networking CATx cables at some customer locations. One place I had to literally crawl over a mess of ‘spaghetti’ on the floor to get to the telecom equipment, treading lightly as pressure on cables put tension on power cords plugged into outlet strips. I was sure I was going to take down their network! 🕸️ 😱
@Putnam Division posted:Paul……I’m trying to think of something witty to say……..but, I’d rather just put you to work.
Remember, my goal…..I don’t want the wiring to look like this! Every time I show this picture to Tom, he gets nauseated……
Peter
I'm feeling much better about my wiring now. 
What's wrong with the wiring. If it works - its good. That said, Mark's wiring is a work of art.
@ScoutingDad posted:What's wrong with the wiring. If it works - its good. That said, Mark's wiring is a work of art.
Thank you, Jeff! At least it is one aspect of the hobby that I can make look really good. 😄
I still hold to the same sentiment; if it works, it’s good!
@Mark Boyce posted:The worst I ever saw was IT networking CATx cables at some customer locations. One place I had to literally crawl over a mess of ‘spaghetti’ on the floor to get to the telecom equipment, treading lightly as pressure on cables put tension on power cords plugged into outlet strips. I was sure I was going to take down their network! 🕸️ 😱
Sounds like the server room at my last job. Just a big half finished mess!
@ScoutingDad posted:What's wrong with the wiring. If it works - its good. That said, Mark's wiring is a work of art.
It is indeed!
Peter
Since the last Update, nothing happened leading up to York as we put the finishing touches on the D-27 module we brought to York......(and, thanks again for all the kind words we received).
However, since I've been back, I've been working on structures and putting in preliminary set ups for the wiring party that I'll eventually have......ie: transformer placement, TIU location, etc.
This afternoon I just said to myself.....can I get a train running, even if it is just in conventional?
Well, I hooked up two power drops on the outer loop, one being on the Mianne Lift Gate, and put a train on. Here is the 1st complete circuit ever done on the layout.....you can see when the engine is far away from the power drop, but it made it! This is the scale Hudson with Scullin drivers from about 2001-02.
Have a great week, everyone!
Peter
How about a video?
Peter
That's awesome Peter. Congratulations!
Congratulations, Peter!
A wiring party! What a novel idea!
Work of art isn’t as important as, does it work? 😉 Thank you just the same!
Most guys would throw a diesel switcher and a couple 6464 box cars on for a test run......nope.....not you!
Go big or go home! 🤣🤣
Looks great Peter. Now it's starting to come to life.
I like the wiring party idea.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:Most guys would throw a diesel switcher and a couple 6464 box cars on for a test run......nope.....not you!
Go big or go home! 🤣🤣
Looks great Peter. Now it's starting to come to life.
I like the wiring party idea.
Bob
Bob…..that’s exactly why I chose to use the walls for shelves instead of backdrops against the walls. When the trains aren’t out, I tend to run the same ones for months. Now, I have no excuse!
Peter
@Putnam Division posted:Since the last Update, nothing happened leading up to York as we put the finishing touches on the D-27 module we brought to York......(and, thanks again for all the kind words we received).
However, since I've been back, I've been working on structures and putting in preliminary set ups for the wiring party that I'll eventually have......ie: transformer placement, TIU location, etc.
Have a great week, everyone!
Peter
I am assuming the "preliminary set ups" also include adult beverages perhaps?
@hokie71 posted:I am assuming the "preliminary set ups" also include adult beverages perhaps?
Paul……you are invited and I suspect Blue Moon will be on the libation menu. For food, I’ll either make chili, or barbecue, get cold cuts or get pizza….
However, what I really meant by setups was that I was getting ready by mounting the TIU and WIU; mounting the power strip; obtaining the necessary power cords; assess where the star-wiring hubs will go; adding wire ferrules to the the power drops (I used about 120 Gargraves pigtails), and so on…… 
Peter
@Putnam Division posted:Bob…..that’s exactly why I chose to use the walls for shelves instead of backdrops against the walls. When the trains aren’t out, I tend to run the same ones for months. Now, I have no excuse!
Peter
Yep- all of my locos are on shelves, but rolling stock is in storage drawers. I'd much prefer to have it all on shelves.
Bob
Lookin' good Peter, I think you one or two more power drops.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Lookin' good Peter, I think you one or two more power drops.
The outer main has 12....I only have two hooked up......and one of those is isolated on the LiftGate.....this is just temporary....
Peter
@Putnam Division posted:The outer main has 12....I only have two hooked up......and one of those is isolated on the LiftGate.....this is just temporary....
Peter
I realized that, just having a little fun at your expense. 
FWIW, when I first had track down but no wiring, I was able to run trains pretty well with just one power drop and jumpering my liftgate to the adjacent track. Since they were running command, I didn't really see any effect of them slowing for voltage drops, I was just amazed they would make it around the whole layout!
Latest update......pre-wiring party infrastructure is nearing completion......I will likely hook up the Legacy Base (one wire) in the next few days to enhance operations of the Legacy/TMCC engines.
I also found this little tidbit among the "stuff".......I still have my OGR Beep.....hmmm
Have a great day, everyone!
Peter
I remember going to Train America at that location when I was kid to put my RS3 on layaway. I think I was 12. I cut grass that summer to make the ~$80 to buy it! Good times haha I still have that engine although the gears are shot.
The layout is coming along! Keep up posted!
Looks great, Peter!
I may have missed it in reviewing this thread, but would you please tell me what size curves you are using on your 2 mainlines? Also, which types of Ross switches are you using (e.g. #4?)
Chuck
@Putnam Division posted:I also found this little tidbit among the "stuff".......I still have my OGR Beep.....hmmm
Have a great day, everyone!
Peter
Peter, I think you should go for the deluxe BEEP upgrade, cruise, sound, custom lighting, etc.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Peter, I think you should go for the deluxe BEEP upgrade, cruise, sound, custom lighting, etc.
Cruise Commander Lite Beta Test, Part Deux
I just take mine out for Christmas……
That’s Alan and Allen in the Santa suits……
Peter
It does seem to have a Christmas theme.
@PRR1950 posted:I may have missed it in reviewing this thread, but would you please tell me what size curves you are using on your 2 mainlines? Also, which types of Ross switches are you using (e.g. #4?)
Chuck
The outer loop is O72. The inner loop is O64. The switches are mostly number 11s and O72s. There are some O64s.….there is an O54 spur with a wye and a short O42 spur north of the lift gate.
Peter
Well....the attic has a drop down attic where the HVAC air distribution system is. A few weeks ago we had our Spring HVAC service and the rep said that he thought animals had entered the attic. In the past (before we finished the current attic room), we've had flying squirrels and had the attic space completely sealed off for the outside.
Critter control came and found that a squirrel was trying to make a nest on some wires in the attic space. She gnawed though a fan vent. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the nest would not take because it wasn't on a good foundation......building materials kept falling to the attic floor. The critter people said she likely got frustrated but went somewhere else.
Wednesday is the clean up day of the nest building materials and metal cages will be put over the fan vents.
Painting drop cloths will be on the layout, the floor and the furniture that is up there,,,,,...
Here are some pictures of what the squirrel left behind!
Hopefully, back in business on Thursday!
Peter
All I can say is:
Roseanne said it all!
Here's the owner of the company on the roof checking things out.....
The two fan vents are just over the "crest" on the back side of the house. The cages will go over them.
Peter
I’m glad you are getting it fixed. We kept getting bats in the attic of our last house. I finally figured out they were getting in the ridge vent. It had larger openings than what we have here. I ended up stapling screen across the whole attic peak.
I’ve done what your roof man is doing on various pitches, but I don’t know if I will ever be able to again.
Glad you caught that in time, Peter. A very dear friend (aka my ex mother-in-law) had a similar attic space and some critters got in there - over time, they gnawed at some of the electric wiring which caused sparked which resulted in a major fire. Luckily, everyone got out safely, but the house was a total loss.
I'm sorry that happened Peter. I'm glad you found it now, instead of way down the road.
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