Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => HO => Topic started by: WGL on August 03, 2008, 02:53:54 AM

Title: Hook up for power pack
Post by: WGL on August 03, 2008, 02:53:54 AM
I currently have my power pack connected to an 18" Radius Curved Terminal Rerailer with Hook up Wire.  I am considering a concentric layout requiring 22" radius Power-Loc track to encompass the 18" radius layout, enabling me to run two trains on the separate ovals, but I can't find 22" radius Curved Terminal Rerailer with Hook up Wire.   How could I connect a power pack to the outer oval without using 18" radius curved terminal rerailer with hook up wire?
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: trainmanchris on August 03, 2008, 04:53:20 AM
couldn't u use 9" stright termanel tracks??? :-\
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: SteamGene on August 03, 2008, 08:41:11 AM
Or you could drill two small holes on the outside of the rails - one beside each rail, and solder your leads to the rails.  
Easier would be to buy the Atlas rail joiners with short leads already attached, and then splice your leads to the joiners.  
Both methods work well and are a lot less expensive.  
Gene
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: WGL on August 04, 2008, 03:20:22 AM
Trainmanchirs,

  I would like to use 9" straight terminal track, if I could find it in PowerLoc.  I haven't done any drilling & wiring.
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: Santa Fe buff on August 04, 2008, 01:32:04 PM
Why no just simply solder the wire to the rail? But I would go with the 9" terminal, unless it's an entire circle, but you used the term 'oval' so I guess I has some straights?
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: trainmanchris on August 04, 2008, 01:42:34 PM
OHHHH it's not E-Z track ok ;D
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: WGL on August 05, 2008, 02:28:59 AM
Santa Fe Buff,

  I have a 6.5' x 13' layout with a lot of straight track.  I just haven't found straight terminal track.
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: SteamGene on August 05, 2008, 08:16:52 AM
Again, try option two - get some Atlas rail joiners with a power lead soldered to them  Then coonect those leads to the wire from your power pack.  You can put the joiners anywhere you want them.
Gene
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: Conrail Quality on August 05, 2008, 08:16:15 PM
Gene, Power-Loc track doesn't use rail joiners, so he'd have to remove some of the ties for that option to be viable. The easiest option in this situation might be to simply solder the wires directly to the rails themselves.

Timothy

Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: SteamGene on August 05, 2008, 08:25:44 PM
Ah - a little learning.  I have the Bachmann "easy" track from a Hogwarts Express set and from a Hawthorne Village set.  The rest of the easy stuff I've never even really looked at.  Yeah.  Drsill and solder.
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: Jhanecker2 on August 05, 2008, 10:41:36 PM
Try finding some of the adapter tracks and adding the terminals to that. The adapters connect to the Power-Lock tracks at one end and allow you to connect  rail  joiners to the other end so you can connect to E-Z Track or Atlas or any other track type.
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: Santa Fe buff on August 06, 2008, 12:28:44 AM
Quote from: Conrail Quality on August 05, 2008, 08:16:15 PM
Gene, Power-Loc track doesn't use rail joiners, so he'd have to remove some of the ties for that option to be viable. The easiest option in this situation might be to simply solder the wires directly to the rails themselves.

Timothy


Tim,
Is it not possible to crop down a rail joint shorter and use it when you use a screwdriver to pry out the power connection things? I'm used to power-loc track, and have experimented with 'adapting' it. But if that fails, Tim's idea is just as good.
~Josh
-Yeah, that's my name, but no last ones!
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: WGL on August 06, 2008, 02:44:39 AM
 Thanks for all of the suggestions.  I'll print them out.  I don't understand why one can't get straight Power-Loc track with terminals.  What is the point of putting them only on 18" radius curved track?  Why not on 22" radius curved track?  Maybe Walthers has a suggestion box.  If EZ track had straight track with terminals, I could use Power-Loc adapters to integrate it.
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: Jhanecker2 on August 06, 2008, 11:40:16 AM
WGL : E-Z track has two straight power tracks , one is a rerailer & the other is a 9  inch straight with an insulated gap . Check Products . I guess Power- Lock is made for beginner layouts it has insufficient  variety in track types.
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: Santa Fe buff on August 06, 2008, 11:51:04 AM
Quote from: WGL on August 06, 2008, 02:44:39 AM
Thanks for all of the suggestions.  I'll print them out.  I don't understand why one can't get straight Power-Loc track with terminals.  What is the point of putting them only on 18" radius curved track?  Why not on 22" radius curved track?  Maybe Walthers has a suggestion box.  If EZ track had straight track with terminals, I could use Power-Loc adapters to integrate it.
Mostly for that Life-Like just thinks that people only use <well mostly use> 18 radii terminals, simply put:
Life-Like doesn't make 9" or any straight terminals.
Josh
Title: Re: Hook up for power pack
Post by: WGL on August 07, 2008, 03:02:06 AM
Jhanecker2 & Santa Fe Buff,
  Thanks for the information.  I could get the E-Z straight terminal & use Power-Loc adapters.  I think I saw on eBay that Power-Loc has 3" sections. which might balance out adapters.