Support those buses!

[CNE Runner]

I thought I would pass along a lesson I just learned (relearned?) regarding the support required for electrical wire buses. The Monks' Island Brewery/Railway is some 60" long with one support at the mid point. You can view all the images I have taken (OK, OK...I know they are dated; but I haven't had the time to post new ones) at:

http://s395.photobucket.com/albums/pp38/Allegro34/Model%20Railroad%20Pictures/The%20Monks%20Island%20Brewery/

One of the shots (p. 2) has a view of the underside of the layout.

When I wired the layout I used my usual 12 ga. household (Romex) wiring - preferring to err on the side of too much...rather than too little (12 ga is overkill on a layout this small). I relied on the center layout support to take the strain off the 18 ga feed wires. Early in the week, I noticed that the Plymouth stalled repeatedly on the Peco Electrofrog turnout before the brewery transfer tables (nothing stalls on Peco Electrofrog track elements)...which told me I had a major problem. Perhaps the Plymouth had grunge on the wheels or the axle-to-frame bearing point? To test this theory I railed the Trackmobile and lo' it also would not negotiate that turnout either!

A closer inspection reveled a broken connection between one of the feeders and the bus wire (at the rail - point side of the turnout). Before fixing this problem I wanted to know what caused the occurrence in the first place (if you don't determine the cause of a problem it is apt to repeat itself later on). I noticed a distinct 'droop' in the bus wires. Apparently this put undue strain on the feeder wires - causing the shortest one to separate.

I lengthend the feeder wire and reattached it. THEN I installed wire clamps on several places along the buss wire. The moral of this story is to provide ample support for that under-layout wiring. Luckily my little layout is easy to work on...imagine it being a room-sized pike?

Hopefully I have alerted you to a potential problem.

Regards,
Ray

[Nigel]

Normally, Romex is supported every 16" to 24"......your experience shows why.

[pdlethbridge]

When I put in the feeder wires to the bus I made sure there was plenty of slack, 1 to make corrections if needed, and 2, to prevent breakage. It will eventually be covered with skirting.

I see that on your layout you just don't have the room. Might I suggest covering the underside with luan plywood to prevent any wires from getting pulled loose and hiding any long wires.

[Jim Banner]

For another approach to undertable wiring, here is what I have under my Lorraine Valley & James River Railway:



For a larger view, click on this link:

http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/underwire

Jim

[pdlethbridge]

and I thought mine was messy!

[CNE Runner]

Pdlethbridge - Luan plywood covering on the underside...why didn't I think of that? Your suggestion would make it a whole lot safer to transport the layout as well as providing support for the wiring AND protection for the SPDT switches...great idea - 'will do!

Jim, I noticed that 3rd blue wire from the outside is coming loose. BTW: Did you find my wallet under there?

Nigel - You are correct and wire of this gauge should be supported frequently. Ah, live and learn.

Cheers,
Ray

[pdlethbridge]

No wallet, but he did find my car keys!

[Jim Banner]

Sorry, no wallets, no keys, but I did find an electrician who went missing back in the 70's.  Seems he got a little too wrapped up in his work.

Jim

PS to PD - this is the part of my layout that generates MY headaches!  It is not the wiring failures - they just don't happen.  It is the memory failures - trying to remember what wires go where and what they do when they get there.