Bus wires under lift-out sections

Does anyone have lift out sections on their layouts, across doorways for example. If so what are the favourite ways to take track power across the section.

I was thinking about copper strips under each end of the bridge section resting on matching copper strips on the benchwork ends when in position.

 

That would work.

I'm thinking of using a phono plug (manually of course), like headphones use.

 

I used the hinges on the one end of my swing-up bridge and barrel locks on the other end for both precise alignment and electrical contact. You run wires from your bus to wrap around any two of the screws on two hinges (to keep polarities separated) and feeder wires from the other screws on each hinge up to their respective rails, soldered. It can all be hidden nicely with scenery.

On the other end, you run wires from that side of the bus to two screws, one on each of two brass barrel locks. Say the loop half. Then the barrel that slides is mounted on that close end of the bridge or lift-out section. Around their screws are two more wires that run the length of the bridge to the other half of the hinges (I know, it sounds a bit complicated, but it is quite simple when you diagram it). You probably don't need it to be reversed, so you can just wire it up at either end, barrel locks or hinge, or both ends with barrel locks, it doesn't matter...just use the metal to transmit power by wrapping the bared wire ends around the retaining screw heads, and feaders up to the closest rails.

The point, for me, was to make this part of a reversing loop, so the whole thing had to be treated as a "block" even though I am using DCC. The automatic reversing unit, a Tony's Train Exchange PSX-AR, controls the orientation of the power to the rails because it's outputs are the ones that connect to my barrel locks. Where the bridge swing down and away, that gap in the rails constitutes the one gap for the block, and one further away from the hinges acts as the second gap, thus providing me a sufficent length for a large steamer and up to 12 coal hoppers.

 

The lift out on my layout is powered by automotive plug ins. There is a four pin plug in on one end as it powers both the lift out and the two foot section that is unpowered when the lift out is removed. There is a two pin plug in on the other end that also powers another 2 foot section that is unpowered when the lift out is removed.
When the lift out is removed there is a two foot section on each side that is unpowered. There are screw studs with wing nuts that hold the lift out in place.
The photos are details of the lift out

 

I use standard RCA plugs. They work fine.

Dave G
Cache Valley & Northern RR

 

A friend of mine used aluminium angle on his lift out section although it was on a non sceniced section and power was transfered via small aluminium clips, never failed plus it also aligned the track.

Shaun