[Brian]

Hi sibrows
I like the layout, its coming along just great
Couple of questions ...
QUOTE I decided to abandon the chipboard in favor of 2mm ply. From one extreme to the other, weight wise.
Do you really mean 2mm thick ply as that's very thin!

I think if your baseboard tops are 2mm thick then they are very likely to warp over time as they are to thin! Unless you install additional cross bracing underneath the layout. The photo of the upturned layout shows the right-hand board (The one with all the point motors) as being larger than a 1 foot sq grid of framing which is the recommended grid spacing of normal 6mm or deeper baseboard tops.

The use of Cat5 computer cables is far to small for a DCC power bus. While it may work for one loco if you power up another loco at the same time and operate any accessories your likely to overheat the cables conductors and even possibly cause a fire if you run several loco's / accessories at once! A DCC power bus should be at least 1.5mm or better still 2.5mm cable conductor size. You only need two wires for the whole layout. So it shouldn't be a real problem?

Keep up the good work.

 

[Brian]

QUOTE I'm currently considering their 'DCC No Solder Power Bus Kit' which looks to do the job quite nicely it's just trying to find a way of reliably connecting the two boards.
Hi
If youre only wanting to have plug/sockets for the DCC power bus then these type of connectors are ideal Maplins Battery Connectors However if youre looking to take several circuits across board joints then these may be useful Maplins Multi pin 5amp connectors

I think the "No solder bus kit" is a bit on the expensive side. There is no need to use spade crimps where the dropper wire connects to the main bus, just use these (Blue ones normally but red can be used too) Maplins snap connectors The main DCC bus can be wired by using Rapid Elec. Wire

Good luck