BarstowRick's H&P Layout Restoration

BarstowRick Sep 15, 2020

  1. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Appreciate your sharing about the "Center-line". That's exactly how you measure your track for the radius. I tend to use a homemade compass. Yard Stick. Drill holes as needed. To draw in the center line which allows me to keep track of the track. What did I say? Allowing me to record what radius any curve on the layout is. Every curve as seen in the videos, is intentional. I love working with flex track, Kato and Peco switches. Awesome visual and smooth operations.

    Not a great fan of sectional track but you'll find it on my layout.

    I have something to share with you in the morning. Stay tuned.
    Don't stay up all night waiting. I'm not going to do that.

    More later.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2022
  2. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Great. Now I won't be able to get to sleep unless I have a vodka.

    :D

    Doug
     
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  3. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wiring? The not so fun part of model railroading. DCC has made it easier but there are still automated switches to be hooked up, lighted buildings, street lights, cars with headlights, emergency lights on fire trucks, towers with red flashing lights and more.

    I can sit and weave my wires together, solder them and wrap them with electrical tape. Only to have the tape unwind because in time it looses it's adhesive properties. I can use shrink wrap and to a point, that works well. I still end up weaving the wires together and soldering them. While it drips on my pant legs. Oh, oh, that's hot. Ouch! Where did I put my drink?. Ice, ice where's the ice?

    Then I found this:

    s-l1600.jpg

    This has the shrink wrap qualities, build in solder and waterproofing. Not that I need the waterproof feature. I do like what I see. Figured you might like this.

    Here's how this works. You slide this down over one of the wires you need to join. Join the two wires. Do a Western Union as in wrap the striped wires around each other. Slide this joiner over the two wires and spot the solder over the bare wires. Heat the solder and wallah you have a connection.

    I tried to steal a link from E-pay. Didn't fly. I'll try again after posting this.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2022
  4. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here's the link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/353784926643
    I don't know how long this link will last.

    This is how it will look when it arrives at my house. I hope!

    790 heat shrink.jpg

    I don't know what the MM stands for or means. On the other hand I know what AWG is. Work with that all the time. I know it's a bag of M&M's. I hope someone found that insulting, uhh..err funny. I can eat the M&M's. Well, a few at a time.

    Ask me if I care about all this millimeter or meter measurements? You got it. I don't!!

    While spending more time with my layout. That would be yesterday. I quickly learned or re-learned the wires are color coded and easy to find the mate for. I won't have any problems putting the wires back together. The problem will be seeing them. More frustrating eye problems.

    Back to you later!
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2022
  5. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Search "solder seal wire connector" on amazon, etc.

    They have assortments, and bulk packs of all one size.
     
  6. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    "mm" is the international standard abbreviation of millimeter.

    "mm2" is a square mm, which is a measure of area, and cross sectional area in this case (used internationally instead of AWG for wire size)
     
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  7. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Had to laugh. Please don't teach me Andy, I don't want to know. I resent being forced to adopt, adapt to something international. I like being an American and what that used to mean.

    Oh, heck. Thanks Andy, at least now I have a better idea and understanding.

    I will check out Amazon. What you can't' know is I have a variety of sizes of wires. The pack as pictured here will get me started. You can bet on that.

    Later!
     
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  8. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Soap box: ON

    AWG has got to be the most archaic way imaginable to define wire size for any practical purpose (weight, strength, conductance/resistance, diameter, etc.) Only two values of AWG are physically defined in terms of diameter (0000 and 36), all the gauges in between are defined as one of 39 logarithmic steps between these two diameters. Ugh.

    Conductance (reciprocal of resistance) of a conductor is directly proportional to its cross sectional area, and inversely proportional to its length. Thus specifying wire sizes in terms of cross sectional area (e.g. mm^2) is much more practical, like the rest of the metric system.

    Soap box: OFF
     
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looks like the bulk of this kit is pre-cut shrink tube. I will be looking forward to a product review.
     
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  10. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Gosh, I have always thought mm meant "mealy-mouthed" and AWG meant "Animals With Grace". By golly, ya learn sumpin' new every day!

    :D

    Doug
     
  11. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hey Ken, You'll get a review. I promise.
     
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  12. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    No no no...AWG means Animals with GRAVY!

    Okay, i'm late for lunch...
     
  13. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Maybe I'm being a little cruel on AWG. Gauges as a means of measuring diameters were developed so that only weight was needed to determine the size.

    For instance, if (hypothetically) a 1 gauge wire is the diameter of a 1 lb sphere of some reference material (lead, copper, whatever), then to make 12 gauge wire, you would shave a portion of that material that weighed 1/12* of a lb. Then one would melt the shavings, and drop the molten material in a tank (or closed bottom pipe, etc.) of quenching oil, deep enough such that the resulting sphere would harden before it hit the bottom and could be deformed. Now, you have a reference for the diameter of a 12 gauge wire. Then you can fashion a drawing die that will just pass that sphere, and you can draw 12 gauge wire 'til the cows come home (or the die wears out).

    The only precision measuring instrument needed is a scale.

    *All you need is a balance beam and a reference weight (say, 1 lb). You start by measuring out 1 lb of shavings. Then you divide those shavings in half, etc. until the portions match. Say half, then half again, then a third (one of three equal portions, balanced against each other until all three match.)

    In the early days of steam power, this was the way things were done.
    In these days of spaceflight, I think maybe we could use a better system.

    Even for our model railroading.
    See what I did there, to bring this back on subject?!
     
  14. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the leads guys. I also need them for wiring bikes and autos where water resistance is necessary.
    I do know about AWG, inch and metric. Having been in machine shops and building construction it's all necessary and often combined.
     
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  15. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Awesome Wire Gauge. (y)

    Thanks Andy, for the heads up and the explanation. I'm learning more about wiring gauge then I thought necessary.

    That's just it. I can look at a wire and almost guess it's gauge. Quick check and I tend to be right more often then not. Just that this is something I know well. What I happen to be used to working with.:sick:

    My question is: Has anyone used these connectors as presented here?

    Having fun yet?:rolleyes:

    Never good bye, Later!;)
     
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  16. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Metric is fine, if you grew up with it and used it. SAE is fine for us old school American's for whom it all makes sense. I have been an electrician for as long as I can remember, and all the AWG and MCM stuff makes good sense to me, since it is what I know. Metric, well, I have a barely there handle on it and can usually work with it, if necessary. But it ain't preferred! My college educated son tries to drive me crazy with all that stuff, but I have more practice at "crazy" than he does!!

    I spent a year in Norway, did lots of physics and Chem in Metric, and it is still weird. But, didn't grow up with it, so it isn't habitual.

    And as for current carrying capacity, well that is a whole different bag o' worms!! I just can't stand how homes are wired with solid core wire still. The worst current carrying capacity, yet the code calls for it. And it probably does have some 'reasonable cause' to be there. But I surely don't know what that is, besides simplicity.

    Enough of that. Neat butt-splicing toy! May have to try some of those in automotive repairs....

    Rick, you got that layout wired up yet???
     
  17. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nope, I've been to busy with other responsibilities. Like Monday night Football. I do get that professional football game. Giants and Cowboys. Should be a good game.

    On the subject of solid wire versus frazzle wire. What did I call it? I wired several layouts with the frazzle / brush wire and ended up with to many ticklers that shorted things out. Today, I wire my track blocks and yard tracks with the solid wire. Lights, accessories might get the frazzle / brush wire. Just depends on what I can pull out of the dumpster. No sales to worry about.

    The wire that I'm using is solid wire taken off of a diseasel (sp intended). Railroad employee dropped it off and I've got more then I will ever use. Good stuff. Some of it is small 21 - 22. I prefer the 20 - 18 AWG.

    Waiting on delivery of the connectors. I did use some 14 household solid wire to deliver the current from the transformers to the control panels. I will be putting that back together with wire nuts.

    Okay, got a game to watch. Maybe the coaches will hear me and run some plays that I call. Really, really, really. Nope.

    Back later.
     
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  18. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    Are any made to connect wire of two different gauges? I've had to connect 16 to 22. Even the suitcase connectors connect to the same gauges.
     
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  19. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I will be counting on these connectors (as seen above) to do just that. I will provide a review.

    I have larger wires that feed out to smaller wires. I've always been able to solder them together in a basket weave type of connection. Sometime using a shrink wrap but most often electrical tape. Run the soldering iron over the tape and you can almost melt it into each other.

    Everything is wait. Wait to be paid, wait to pay down my credit line, wait until that hits the computer and now I will be clear to order them. The hardest wait? Wait until it gets here. Yep!

    Something I've tried and works. You can use the resistance in a smaller wire to even out the performance of a train. You know one moving from one block to another.

    For example. I will use the 22 - 20 AWG size wire when the run is under six foot long. 21 - 18 AWG for the longer runs. To clarify, the distance from the control panel to the actual track.

    What amazes me is how well the trains run. How consistent in speed with little or no deviation. I messed with the idea of smaller wire sizes on the downhill runs to slow the trains down. It worked but not well. I even used resistors and didn't like that. I prefer to reset the speed downhill with my 35M Transformer by setting the momentum for quicker response and then adjust downhill speed with the throttle, as needed. Works nicely.

    The quirky thing about me. I don't need to run trains or even see them run to be happy. I am that guy that calls up my fellow enthusiast and invites them over to run trains. Oh don't get me wrong I like to see my trains run. I prefer to be the one standing back watching for problems, trouble shooting. Watching for those ever present oop's. As long as they run smoothly, look good through the curves and with little or no derailing. Hint, I like body mounted couplers. You can't use those darn tight curves and expect to run through them. Do I dare say without incident? My soap box. Could you guess?

    What I like most is building a layout. What I don't like is remodeling a layout. Did you point out that - that is exactly what I happen to be doing. You got that. I'm not at all for that. Don't like that. What is that?

    The thing I dislike most. Worst offender: Now i will be dealing with new fill in construction that has to match the old. Then there is the custom fitting of the track. Yes, the mundane chore that's ahead of me. Grudgingly muttering, wiring it all back in. Aiiyiiyii !!

    The Joy in all of this is seeing it all come together.

    Back in a bit.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2022
  20. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Just so you are aware. i started model railroading back when I was 12 years old. No claim to fame. It was the first years of the 60's. Hippies and long hair would come later. As would the Jesus people.

    Dad wouldn't allow me to have a layout saying, i didn't know what i was doing. Okay, that might have been a fair assessment. What he didn't seem to realize is I was dragging wood home from Saufner's Plumbing and the Lumber Yard practically next door. All less then a block away.

    I built a wooden fort, two story, with a watch tower, sporting a flag pole. Mom helped us sew-up a flag for the flag pole. A real Betsy Ross. A take off on the type of Calvary Flags. Unit flags.

    It wasn't long we had power. Safe? That was the question back then.

    Bad combo but when the kids ran through our back yard, at night, to ditch each other, the local police or their parents. We had a hose that we could cut loose on them. Funniest expressions on their faces. Priceless.

    I soon learned to work with wood. Borrowed hand tools from my Great Grand Dad's tool box. Drilled holes, miter cuts, hand saws, chisels (one right into the palm of my hand) and learned how to hammer nails and screw in screws. Been doing that ever since.

    Has it improved. Probably not. Look at the fun I'm having.
     

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