I am beginning to wire my new layout. It has 6 Lemax carnival rides, 3 Woodland Scenic buildings with plugs, 5 WS without plugs (just wires), 5 Menards lighted buildings, and an assortment of other buildings, some with LED lighting and some with light bulbs. What would be simplest approach to use? WS Just Plug system (with Light Hubs, Connecting Cables, etc), Menards Plug and Play system (wall warts and accessory kit), straight wiring with terminal blocks, or some combination?
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So, I think I figured it out on my own. But it is a costly solution. $67 on WS Just Plug system and $40 for Menards Plug and Play. Maybe I should have just wired it up the old-fashioned way. But I am reducing the clutter and enabling a dimming function to my WS buildings. I still have to deal with all the non-Menards, non-WS, non Lemax buildings. But that should be manageable.
I've seen the WS system at my LHS, they have a demo set up. One thing it can do is dim the lights, I think separate on/off controls and maybe more, I haven't looked that closely at it. However, I think it is a pretty neat system and appears to be pretty well thought out. If the added features are of interest it might be worth it? Probably not much help, just my thoughts, FWIW.
Shop around for the WS Just Plug items. Local Hobby Lobby carries and you can use 40% off coupon on 1 item each purchase. I've also found some of the light and hub packages in the bargain aisle from time to time. I think it depends on how well the inventory turns over before they send things off to the bargain aisle. Tower Hobbies also has had discount pricing if you buy multiples (3 or more I believe) of an item and typically has a $5-15 off the total coupon if you spend over certain thresholds. Probably other sources in the hobby world where you can get discounts. There is also a very affordable knock off brand for the lights on e bay that works perfectly with Just Plug system, although the wires aren't as streamlined, We use Just Plug system to light 50+ Dept 56 buildings and also have 20 of the street lights. Couldn't be easier to use and you can daisy chain the power supply from one hub extension to the next.