Connection POWER CAB DCC to EZ Track Rail - Wire from CAB to Rail Question

[joho]

Just purchased a Power Cab DCC Starter set to use with brand new EZ track from Bachmann. First time doing model trains so I have a question re: attaching HO Code 100 Terminal Joiners to the EZ Track. I have attached one of the Terminal Joiners to the inside rail and will then connect it to the Power Cab. Will then follow with wire to the Cab and the outer rail. BUT from the illustration in the Power Cab manual, it appears that the Terminal Joiner Wire should run UNDER the track for that inside rail. But the way the piece is soldered - see pics attached - the piece does stick up a bit ... and I'm wondering if this would interfere with the trains movement? Is there something that I am not doing right? If I flip the Joiner the other way, it appears the wire would get scrunched into the bottom of the track when I connect two tracks. Hope this makes sense. Appreciate any advice.

[RBDNHM]

I don't see pictures attached but also use ez track with a power cab.  I use the terminal rerailers, so am not sure of the quandry you face.  With terminal joiners I assume one powerlead out from power cab would go to inside rail and the other powerlead out from the power cab would go to the outside rail.  There are slots under ez track at the ends to run smaller gauge wires out the ends and under the track. 

Look at http://www.wiringfordcc.com/index.htm for the best overall resource I have found on DCC.

[joho]

Thank you ... I will try uploading the pics again. And Thanks for the link ... will check it out.

Well it won't let me upload - tells me my upload folder is full. But I will check the link out. And I understand your point about the underside of the tracks at ends that allow for wire. Just not sure how that works ... as there is a "prong" that sticks out. Appreciate the info.

[Len]

You can't upload pics directly to this forum. You have to load them to a site like Flikr and then link the pic URL from there to here using the image tags. Click the icon under the I in the "Add BBC tags:" row to create the tags.

Len

[joho]

And there you have it - thank you.

Off to see my local hobby model train shop tomorrow to get answers to this ... I'm sure it's just me being a NEWBIE ... LOL

[Flare]

Do you have an E-Z Track connection wire with spade connectors on one end?  I simply screwed one prong from each wire directly into the track output of my Power Cab.

If you have the newer style with a headphone jack on one end you can cut that off, strip the insulation off the wires and then screw it into the track output.

[joho]

I actually purchased the EZ Track separately, not as part of a set - and attached the Terminal Joiner directly to a rail - with the other end going into the Power Cab. I did upload the pics here:

http://joehovey.com/images/connection.jpg

http://joehovey.com/images/connection2.jpg

I tried bending the "T" stem but it snapped off of one of them. But concerned I haven't done it correctly?! Appreciate all the help.

[Flare]

I think those T stems are designed to drop vertically through the base of a layout, not bent at the solder joint.

A terminal rerailer connection wire can be purchased for less than $10 on Ebay.  Just be careful not to get the outdated kind that connects to the track with two tubes.


This is N scale track but comes with 3 of the connectors you need:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/N-GAUGE-POWER-HOOK-UP-CURVED-TRACK-BACHMANN-PLUS-TWO-ADDITIONAL-POWER-WIRES/112796364990

Or you could try an extension cable:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Bachmann-Extension-Wire-Red-HO-Scale-Carded-Package-Contains-10-Terminal/332393583194

[joho]

thank you for that info - appreciate the link!

[joho]

Went to Train Shoppe here in Portland OR today. The guys there are the best. They got me straightened out with this issue. I'm a happy man ... and now ready to play!

To all - thank you for the suggestions and the assistance. Much appreciated!