power Supply across base boards help

[darren01]

Hi All

 

I have been thinking of using these on my layout to join the boards together at the moment I am using computer leads to run the power between my boards.

 

Has anyone ever used these from C+L?

Baseboard Track End protectors - 4 mm, 7 mm, 10 mm / C1012

As I need to be able to join the boards up without having to wire it all the time, as I want it to be plug and play.

 

All the best

 

Darren01

 

 

[jamie92208]

From my own hard won experience exhibiting, leads with plugs and sockets are the best solution. protectors are just that. Over time plugs tend to get worn and then you don't get good connections. Proper plugs such as computer/Scart leads or the otehr types that are available are the best solution. None are perfiect and apart from the ex miltary spec ones which can sometimes be obtained fromn surplus stores, they are all liable to damage with handling.

 

Jamie

[Baby Deltic]

I think the best be is the trusty 'D' plug

[craigwelsh]

I'm intending on trying XLR plugs and sockets at the moment to carry DCC power, a bit more robust than PC plugs being designed for stage use and more disconnections.

 

I'd agree not to integrate power into the board connections although I believe some people have sent the power connection via the layout bolts...

[Guest 30-something]

I use a 7-pin DIN plug and socket for cross baseboard power. With the simplicity of DCC Im only using 3 pins! (+/- track feed and a common for the point motors)

[gwrman]

Hi, to carry my DCC bus wires over the baseboard join I use Tamiya connectors available from model shops or ebay.

 

Nigel.

[Nile_Griffith]

Got to agree with craig welsh on the use of XLR connectors.

 

The design was originally derived for use in Laboratory's as a frequent use connector with similar handling characteristics as military type connectors but without the cost.

 

The connectors come in a variety of pin set ups, the most common being three pin as predominantly used by pro-audio. However there is a 4 pin version (common with the camera fella's as a power connector for camera's and portable video monitors etc) and 5 pin connection (mainly used by lighting engineers for DMX control cabling. The most important thing is that these connectors have good voltage/current working, certainly more than enough for an average layout. They also positively latch together. They are the industry standard for pro-microphones and so they are designed with staying connected in mind (until of course it comes the time to disconnect. best of all these connectors are designed to be coupled and uncoupled hundreds of times with no drop in mechanical or electrical performance. Ideal for exhibition layouts or home layouts that need to go into storage frequently.

 

If you are particularly concerned about power/current. There is a two pole connector that follows a similar form factor, that was devised for mains voltage connections that required the security of a latching connector.

 

In my opinion the best manufacturer for these XLR type connectors is a company called Neutrik. I have in a professional capacity used 100's of these little tinkers in broadcast and live event situations. The kind of occasion where you don't want the connection to come apart.

 

Neutrik also make a very nifty 'Powercon' connector. Designed to make secure locked connection with safe make and break of mains voltage contacts.... well worth a look.

 

XLRS may not be the cheapest connector solution, but are far more rugged than computer D'type connectors, whose shells and pins can at best be described as "flimsy" We throw tens of microphone cables into road trunks for transport and bent pins or cases are never a problem (unless of course some idiot threw a cable in that had been trashed by something big and heavy).

 

If you are serious about your connections and looking for spot on reliability then these are well worth a look at.

[Simon G]

Another type of connector that is both robust and reliable is shown in the attached photo. It is effectively a heavy duty "chocolate block" with a plug/socket arrangement. I have seen it used on a club layout with no problems. I dont know what it is called, hence the photo of the plug section only (ignore the wiring - this was for a fix to convert DC wiring to DCC on a layout). The beauty of these is that the socket end can be fixed to the underside of the base board more easily than an XLR connector - the plug end is then left sufficiently loose to connect to the fixed socket.

 

Simon

[craigwelsh]

The beauty of these is that the socket end can be fixed to the underside of the base board more easily than an XLR connector - the plug end is then left sufficiently loose to connect to the fixed socket.

 

Simon

Not sure what you mean about XLR there. Block of wood with a hole in? http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/25247-xlr-socket-3p-panel-unified-blk-ac3fdzb-amphenol.html Actually this is the preferred one for the fixed end http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/18428-xlr-plug-3p-panel-unified-blk-ac3mmdzb-amphenol.html .

[Suzie]

I use the Speakon connectors. They are very robust and will handle up to 40A (and higher current ones are available). The 4-way and 2-way are interchangeable - they are just ideal for DCC. They are also very cheap and compatible 2.5mm four core flexible cable is easily available. I use pair 1 for the DCC track feed and pair 2 for the auxiliary DC accessory supply.

 

I would advise against using the XLR connectors. They are really intended for low current applications and the mains ones tend to be unreliable after a lot of use even in their intended mains applications - and I would advise against using a standard mains connector on a layout for low voltage applications (Robin Green's 'Trials of Treoch' article in Model rail did not set a good example!).

 

I have used the nylon RC battery connectors and these are quite adequate but there is no chassis mounting option so they tend to get caught up on things and knocked off (might just be clumsy operators!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[craigwelsh]

I use the Speakon connectors. They are very robust and will handle up to 40A (and higher current ones are available). The 4-way and 2-way are interchangeable - they are just ideal for DCC. They are also very cheap and compatible 2.5mm four core flexible cable is easily available. I use pair 1 for the DCC track feed and pair 2 for the auxiliary DC accessory supply.

 

I would advise against using the XLR connectors. They are really intended for low current applications and the mains ones tend to be unreliable after a lot of use even in their intended mains applications ).

15A is hardly 'low current' when a DCC booster for 4mm is unlikely to be above 8A. I'd agree the mains type don't seem as good. Speakon are good connectors though but I thought they were slightly overkill for this use.

 

What do you use for controller bus or any other functions such as point control?

 

Btw was the op DCC as DC needs very little in the way of current in each wire for the track at least..

[i-gadget]

Another vote for XLR connectors.

 

Have tried various methods over the years but XLR is the firm favourite for the reasons mentioned in the previous posts. Very robust and positive, plus easy and quick to connect/disconnect especially

when packing up after an exhibition! Did though get caught out once by purchasing some (cheap) 7 way XLRs from a well known tool/component outlet which turned out to be rubbish - had to wiggle the male connector to establish

any form of contact, and then very intermittent, so had to trash them. Learnt the lesson and will only use Neutrik or similar, usually sourced from Rapid.

 

Below are a couple of images of the underside of a new board showing the mounting 'bracket' for the 'chassis' XLR connectors - awaiting drilling of holes for the connectors.

 

John

[298]

Plug and play sounds like a good idea, but if you need to do some serious fault finding to trace a short, you'll have to physically split the boards. It's also useful to have somewhere to plug into, should you wish to test individual boards.

[Suzie]

15A is hardly 'low current' when a DCC booster for 4mm is unlikely to be above 8A. I'd agree the mains type don't seem as good. Speakon are good connectors though but I thought they were slightly overkill for this use.

 

What do you use for controller bus or any other functions such as point control?

 

Btw was the op DCC as DC needs very little in the way of current in each wire for the track at least..

 

I think that DCC got mentioned in post 4!

 

 

I guess that 15A is OK but the terminals in XLR connectors are not always big enough to get 2.5mm wires in to. The Speakon connectors are not huge and they are only slightly more expensive than the XLR but they are nicely sized for the 2.5mm wire with screw connectors. Operators have given me positive feedback that they like the Speakon connectors with their nice plug - twist - latch operation.

 

Point control is either DCC controlled (via the track supply) or via local buttons on the baseboard. Power for the points is provided by the auxiliary 18VDC supply so local buttons will always work even if track power fails. Overload protection is done on each baseboard.

 

Cab bus is done with RJ45 (for the E-Z command) or RJ12 (lenz, Roco etc.).

 

I guess that for DC interconnects between baseboards I would still favour using 'D' connectors because of the vast number of connections required in most cases and the low current requirements rarely need the pins to be paralleled. I can't think of a layout that I have wired that used less than twelve ways between baseboards at some point so XLR would not really work for DC in my experience. I would still use 7/02 wire for DC (perhaps 16/02 for points), 2.5mm would be serious overkill! 

 

 

 

 

 

[darren01]

<br />Hi, to carry my DCC bus wires over the baseboard join I use Tamiya connectors available from model shops or ebay.<br /><br />Nigel.<img src="http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif" /><br />

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Frist i would like to thank you all for your help on this one!!.

I have Ordered these and will be fitting them to my layout .