What's New on the PRR Panhandle Division?

[v8vega]

Solderng wire is easy. I solder all feeders to buss wires and feel that I have done the best job.

[Roy]

Wayne: I can't say I'm impressed with the appearance of the "micro-graphic cross section." I figure that, if the insulation is removed, the steel tabs will spring away from the compressed copper strands. If so, I wouldn't expect the connector resistance to be at all consistent - let alone, acceptably low.

There are other types of crimping tools, such as those used by cable installers, which use a seamless tubular connector. These can make fairly solid mechanical connections with the wire - although I don't know what kind of current can be safely carried - especially if stranded wires are not tinned together first. This IS a non-trivial safety issue, as there are so many traintards out there attempting wiring - often with an I-don't-need-no-stinkin'-solder attitude. Personally, I have more experience with pressure welding of metal chips to a lathe bit. There is some bonding, there.

George: I'm sorry for another damnable failure of manners and/or foresight, on my part. Please be assured, I'm dying as fast as I can.

...The only way to confirm or reject what Roy says is to do a tear down on a suitcase connection--as I did on this crimp connector.



As you can see in the last image, the crimp squeezed the heck out of the wire making it appear to be one with the crimp connector. Some people say the wire has been "cold welded" to the crimp connector.

[webenda]

I answered you over in the "Wire Quality" thread Roy.
=> viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15689&start=30

[jlong]

Would it help to add a ground plane to the crimps by wrapping the strands with tin foil before crimping?

[rogruth]

Would it help to add a ground plane to the crimps by wrapping the strands with tin foil before crimping?

Would the operator still need to wear the tin foil hat if that were done?

[v8vega]

If the Democrats would all wear tin foil hats it would reflect the sun back and stop so called global warming.

[rogruth]

If the Democrats would all wear tin foil hats it would reflect the sun back and stop so called global warming.

Could be.

[MYmoo]

George,

Thank you for reading my
post
on Fri Mar 06, 2015 8:42 am,
becoming disconcerted, and deciding to take a course of action.
I like #3 in your list best of all.

I did have thoughts similar to Roy's, when I first saw the referenced pics.

Good Luck & Godspeed on the resolvement of your electrical issues.
-------

For the record, I HAVE seen the damage caused by their use, to the wire & surrounding environment.
As mentioned elsewhere, ANY wire/cable/connector movement will aggrevate the damage.

I've had to repair/correct 'slice' connector connections many times, 'professionally', 'for hire',
upon request, on autos, on the 'farm', on toy train layouts, and elsewhere.

('wallpaper' upon request.)

[G3750]

Updated 3/16/2015:

Not a whole lot to report, but I did cut the floor for the 2nd bridge pier yesterday. It needs a coat of paint, but is now the right shape.

Also have been working on the 3 other bridge shoes when time allows. Just need to put the top plate on them.

Managed to paint the remaining spare bridge shoe parts. I'm thinking of selling those.

George

[G3750]

Updated 3/29/2015:

I spent some time over the weekend trying to debug my Switch Bus issues without too much forward progress. I probably have more than 1 switch machine malfunctioning. To isolate the problem and to simplify things a bit, I decided to run each Switch Bus from its own DZ-2001.

Yesterday, I made the wiring changes at the Western Distribution Panel. Switch Bus #1 now works perfectly. Its switches operate correctly from either their push buttons or the CAB-1. Pretty happy about that; no more connecting / disconnecting bus wires when debugging.

Perhaps today, but certainly over the rest of the week I will focus on isolating the malfunctioning switch machines on Switch Bus #2. We already know #14 is bad. We suspect #9 is also problematic. Interesting coincidence? that both machines are the first ones in cross-over pairs (9 & 10, 14 & 15)? Hmm.

Anyway, I have gotten another lesson learned out of this.

Initially, the Western Distribution Panel was designed for DCS (TIU, AIU) and TMCC (Command Base). There was enough room for these components back then. When I changed to TMCC only, some space was freed up, but then quickly consumed by the larger number of ala carte TMCC components (TPC, BPC, AMC, ARC) and associated wiring paths.

The Lesson: make your panel as big as you think you will ever need, then double it! From observing some of the panels in the toll industry, I've come to realize that laying them out efficiently and logically is an art. Most of us experience the creeping incrementalism and direction changes that result in somewhat cluttered panels. Anyway, I've got another lesson for the next incarnation of the PRR Panhandle.

George

[jlong]

George, those are good lessons. Another: When estimating what it costs to build a layout. Take what figure you think it will cost and square it.

[G3750]

George, those are good lessons. Another: When estimating what it costs to build a layout. Take what figure you think it will cost and square it.

Actually John, sometimes it's better not to look.

"If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." - Frederick Nietzsche (philosopher and model railroader)



George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

George, those are good lessons. Another: When estimating what it costs to build a layout. Take what figure you think it will cost and square it.

Actually John, sometimes it's better not to look.

Good advice! There are some things that we are mortal beings are just not meant to know, some mysteries that should not be probed.

"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow."

"If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." - Frederick Nietzsche (philosopher and model railroader)

Indeed. "He who fights with a monster should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.
And when you gaze long into an abyss, The abyss also gazes into you"

[G3750]

It's amazing the breadth of topics that find their way onto MTJ!

The Topic Police do not heavily patrol this corridor and we are left free to follow the fanciful flight of ideas.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

It's amazing the breadth of topics that find their way onto MTJ!

The Topic Police do not heavily patrol this corridor and we are left free to follow the fanciful flight of ideas.

George