TPC Connection

No reason I can think of that going through a terminal strip would be a problem, power is power.

It would be recommended to use the same gauge wire that is on the TPC power cables to avoid a drop in voltage.

Have you ever thought about doing this:

Behind the masonite board is a terminal strip, non-surge protector type, connected to the wall outlet through one of those remote radio controlled Christmas tree light connector so all I need to do to turn on the power is push the button on that little beige box in the photo just behind the CAB-1 remote.

Thanks guys.

Hadn't thought about vertical mounting. I was planning on a horizontal configuration about 18" off of the floor.

Still noodle-ing, I have to think about getting behind it should I need to when something goes wrong, as it always does.

thanks again.

Ralph

There is/are Lionel parts (6-14194) that change from the Molex connector to forked spades.  Note the connector hanging to the right bottom of the silver box (TPC 400) This allows the plug-in of two (Parallel)  in this case Power House 135 or 180 bricks.  One PH 180 is supplying power to the TPC 400.  Two wires upper left of this board supply track  power (command voltage) to the RH/TT (Roundhouse/Turntable, Fort Pitt HiRailers.) module.   The second PH 180 can be easily added to the connector part.  

Horizontal Power/Control shelves on former layout --dismantled Oct '09. Using ASC Modules to control Tortoise turnout motors.

It's really not difficult getting behind the panel. The panel is mounted up in the front of the layout. The only thing behind are the wires coming off the individual control units, the wires from the PowerHouses and the power wire to the command base and of course the telephone wire and the terminal strip supplying power to everything . I've had this arrangement for over five years and have never had any issues.

My layout is high enough that when I was doing the work on the control panel I just sat on the floor behind it. The front is well organized but the back of the panel is a maze of wires.

I have a 2x6 foot yard area that forms my layout into an "L" shape and is removable. The electrical connections are made using "Jones" plugs. They are also referred to as "Cinch" plugs. They make moving it out of the way to pull the main layout away from the wall to work on it possible.