Wiring Items For Control Panel

Consider using different color wires.  I solder all "solderless" terminals.

Colored electrical tape and number I.D. tape makes trouble shooting easier.

The MTH 12 and 24 post terminal blocks are very helpful.

Consider prewiring through the wire management holes before the decking is installed.

You will hate ring terminals the first time you have to change a wire.  Probably even before that.  Life is too short; just use the forked ones.

Brendan

@Brendan posted:

You will hate ring terminals the first time you have to change a wire.  Probably even before that.  Life is too short; just use the forked ones.

Brendan

I'd use the ring terminals for stuff I'll never touch like my switch controllers. For stuff I'll touch I'll use the fork ones. 

@Tom Tee posted:

 

 

The MTH 12 and 24 post terminal blocks are very helpful.

Consider prewiring through the wire management holes before the decking is installed.

 

That is some of the best organized wiring I've seen.

1   For best connections use terminal strips with clamping plates.

See multiple uses at almost middle of page  "Joining Wires - Positive wire connections guarantee trouble free operation.  These products and practices keep the SSPRR operating with ease."

2  A screw gives a long lasting reliable connection (see above)  4-POSITION PC MOUNT TERMINAL STRIP, NUMBERED 1-4

3  Used on postwar transformer posts only and not needed with screw clamp terminals

4  This or similar fits very nicely on a control panel.  SPST ON-OFF HEAVY DUTY TOGGLE SWITCH

5  Email me for the part numbers for correct sizes.

Tips:  Leave wires long enough to move to other taps.  Color coding wires is vital.  Control boxes/spaces need to be almost two times bigger than you think.  Track power switches and turnout controls need to be out of reach of most visitors.  For minimum under table work mount terminal strips toward front of tables.

See Toy Train Layout Wiring for more helpful information.

@Tom Tee posted:

Consider using different color wires.  I solder all "solderless" terminals.

Colored electrical tape and number I.D. tape makes trouble shooting easier.

The MTH 12 and 24 post terminal blocks are very helpful.

Consider prewiring through the wire management holes before the decking is installed.

Tom Tee - really nice neat wiring! I clipped a picture so I can remember what a great wiring job looks like.

Re: banana plugs.  Newark electronics listed amp ratings for plugs (many sources don't) and offered solder plugs a while back when I ordered a batch.   Try Newark, Mouser, Allied etc. for plugs rated at 10A or higher.

@Tracker John posted:

Re: banana plugs.  Newark electronics listed amp ratings for plugs (many sources don't) and offered solder plugs a while back when I ordered a batch.   Try Newark, Mouser, Allied etc. for plugs rated at 10A or higher.

Would digikey have them? I have a cart started. 

Cal Test Electronics CT1002 series is solderable for 12G wire, 36Amps

@Tracker John posted:

Cal Test Electronics CT1002 series is solderable for 12G wire, 36Amps

Cool but does Digikey have them? I'd prefer to buy all my parts I need to order (at least this go around) from one place. I found CT2002 on there but not 1002.

@Tom Tee posted:

 

The MTH 12 and 24 post terminal blocks are very helpful.

 

Perhaps, but they are very expensive solutions compared to 12 position terminal strips and jumpers.

Tom, very nice neat wiring.  

George

Sorry, CT2002 is the correct part.

This is a kind of Ford vs Chevy position but I personally would NOT use any Atlas electrical circuit controller on my panel.  The installed schematic is very tempting but in my experience, there is a variable rate of dependability.

I have been at this game for decades, and yes the failure rate is not over whelming, but the failures that have happened have been a determining factor in never using them again.

Another feature to consider, terminal strips.  They come in many different multiples of posts.  Some brands have slide on sets of posts so you can make your own quantity count .

All soldered connections to track or Tortoise or whatever simply drop down to a terminal strip or direct t o a relay.  This way any component can be removed with a simple unscrewing of just the wire drops involved.

Soldered connections are your friend.

This is how tortoise switch machines can be prepped and attached.  Example for a 2 rail double cross over.

Sometimes I  use the EDAC 306-008-521-101 eight pin slip on connectors.  Very convenient but some folks say they can have less than secure connection.

I use 9 wire conductor 18 ga HVAC control wire.

@Tom Tee posted:

This is a kind of Ford vs Chevy position but I personally would NOT use any Atlas electrical circuit controller on my panel.  The installed schematic is very tempting but in my experience, there is a variable rate of dependability.

I have been at this game for decades, and yes the failure rate is not over whelming, but the failures that have happened have been a determining factor in never using them again.

Another feature to consider, terminal strips.  They come in many different multiples of posts.  Some brands have slide on sets of posts so you can make your own quantity count .

All soldered connections to track or Tortise or whatever simply drop down to a terminal strip or direct to a relay.  This way any component can be removed with a simple unscrewing of just the wire drops involved.

Soldered connections are your friend.

 

Thanks for your comments. I thought about it last night, I'm thinking about just using the AIU only for isolated power control and skipping the manual control. Would save money and wiring. The terminal blocks are really just for easy of use for me. I do solder my connections from my track to the terminal blocks for my wiring there. 

Heck, just run your wiring as required.  You don't need all those highfalutin' electrical connectors.

Here's a picture of most of my junky control panel. This shows 2 of 3 AIUs. 

I do like to use Panduit to route all of my wiring. This is a Hoffman subpanel (24x54). Using wiring ferrules (Google it) make using stranded wire connections to the AIUs simple.