Temporary/Holiday Layout Accessory Wiring Tips?

The MTH 50-1014 is a great choice. They come with feet you can use. You can set it on the floor for a temporary layout. You didn't ask, but I frequently use this with a roll of 16ga speaker wire for making temporary connections.

redrockbill posted:

First off, I'm an electrical illiterate, so please forgive my ignorance of what is likely perfectly obvious. Second, I realize this is more appropriate for the Electrical forum but, as it pertains to temporary or holiday layouts, I thought I'd ask here first…

What is the best way to wire multiple accessories on a temporary or holiday layout? I had two this year running straight into the fixed voltage transformer posts. However, as I'm planning to add at least two accessories for next Christmas, I'm wondering if a barrier strip might be a better approach, but what's the best way to secure/protect those strips on a floor layout? Is there a better/safer alternative?

Thanks for any and all input!

redrockbill

I moved this to the electrical category where it belongs....

redrockbill: Why not a floor platform? Some 8' x 4' plywood sheets on a frame will provide room to do whatever you want underneath. If you plan it right, you can make it portable enough to use year after year. Make it so that it can be stored out of the way in the dimensions that work for your situation.

Tom: Thank you, I will definitely look at that. That also appears to be relatively dummy-proof, so it should be ideal for me!

Leo: I ask that question every Christmas when I'm crawling around on the floor (even more now that I'm in a house with hard wood floors)! However, the missus likes to move the trees (and the furniture) around from year to year, so I'm never sure how much space I'll have or what shape that space will be!

Thanks again to both of you for your help!

redrockbill

I like Gilly's idea of the MTH distribution board - I have used barrier terminal strips(simply because they were on hand when needed). I place a white felt on the floor. This permits me to hide any wiring by fishing it under the felt. Track feeds and accessory power.

This method allows you to adapt to the relocation whims of the land lord of the trackage rights.

redrockbill posted:

Leo: I ask that question every Christmas when I'm crawling around on the floor (even more now that I'm in a house with hard wood floors)! However, the missus likes to move the trees (and the furniture) around from year to year, so I'm never sure how much space I'll have or what shape that space will be!

Thanks again to both of you for your help!

redrockbill

 

Not specific to your original question but this idea may help with wires.  What I do on my FLOOR Christmas layouts, which I redesign each year as you must do, is this: I lay down blue board (insulation board) first leaving about a 1" gap between pieces.  I then lay Homasote on top of that.  The gaps allow for running wires thru.  

Two advantages: the wires stay hidden until they surface where needed, and I don't have to worry about them being tramped on.

As to your original question: I use barrier strips.  One for + and one for -

- walt