Power Bus system

4211 Views 29 Replies 10 Participants Last post by SPROGman, Nov 15, 2007

breastonstation

Discussion Starter · Nov 6, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

Hi,
I am confused regarding the Bus systems people use. I have looked at a few other threads and its confused me more.

Anyway. if I explain what I think a bus system is then could anybody enlighten me as to weather or not I am correct?.........

Basically cable running every couple of metres soldered to the edge of each rail and constantly going around the track, starting from track source? I did a search on the net for bus kits and one DCC kit I saw involved crimps and all sorts of stuff, not what I expected.

(wires in photo not soldered to track - just placed for photo reference)

The wire I am using is the same specification that comes with DCC sets. I have stripped the ends of the cable to approx 10mm and tinned them to stop them spraying out.

Any help will be greatfully appreciated.

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SPROGman

· #5 · Nov 7, 2007

QUOTE (Brian @ 7 Nov 2007, 09:03) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have to agree with Robert. The best connection is always going to be a correctly made and soldered joint. Crimps, screw down connector blocks or just twisting wires are all likely to be sources of trouble in the future.
Also agree, and Rapid part No. 86-0390 makes stripping the insulation back very quick and easy. Although they're normally used for stripping from an end, they work just fine along the length of a wire, parting the insulation enough to solder the dropper on.

Andrew

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SPROGman

· #25 · Nov 14, 2007

QUOTE (Breaston @ 13 Nov 2007, 20:32) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Also what sort of intavles to I need between each dropper? 1.5m?
The ideal to aim for is one dropper for every piece of track so that you do not rely on track joiners which can cause problems long term.

Andrew

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SPROGman

· #30 · Nov 15, 2007

QUOTE (Brian @ 14 Nov 2007, 18:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Once in palce 2.5mm solid is very easy to strip the insulation from whenever a dropper is needed to connect to it - Run a craft knife around the insulation and slice off 15-20mm or so . Flexible conductors are very much harder to strip along their length. It keeps flexing then the knife digs into the soft wires and fractures a few conductors so you end up with 2.5 cable reducing it to around 1.5mm if you're not careful.
It's even easier with "automatic" wire strippers. See earlier in the thread. They cope with solid and stranded.

Andrew

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