| Archive for thecentralstation.myfreeforum.org Railway modelling for all Scales and Gauges |
| TheThing |
Power Clips - real beginner's question!Hi all,Been given some power clips to use on my layout, but a bit unsure about them! They are the black plastic ones with two lengths of 'copper' that come out of different sizes. I think you slide them under the rails so one bit of copper touches one rail and one the other. Big question - how do they open?!? I don't want to force them, but I've tried prying with a small screwdriver to no effect! Cheers, |
| poliss |
On Hornby track there are gaps at certain points between the rails and the sleepers where the power clips fit. There are arrows on the underside of the track to show where the gaps are, or you can look at the track sideways on to see them.
Far better to solder droppers to the track though. |
| TheThing |
This is just a temporary thing to get some track running and power all round it. Soldering will come on the permanant layout, promise!
If they don't open, do I just push the electrical feed from the controller into them? |
| poliss |
The wires from the controller just push into the holes in the back of the powerclip.
A thought just occurs, are they the Peco seperate single clips or the Hornby double clip as in the previous link? Link to Peco Power Clips. http://www.osbornsmodels.com/st-9...wer-connecting-clips-4-1480-p.asp |
| TheThing |
They are the Hornby power clips. |
| Joe |
Just push the wire from the controller (with a socket type thing on the end) into the holes on the power clip (dont use any other wires) You might get a shock |
| TheThing |
Socket type thing?
Can you not just put the bare wire in then? |
| Teleman |
In the past i have  If you use bell wire size cable it fits quite well
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| Teleman |
Is it one like this ?
Picture from ebay listing |
| TheThing |
Almost, but instead of having the two 'shotgun barrels' sticking out, they just have two holes.
I think, if I add a 'blob' of solder to the ends of the wires and then push them in, I should be ok. It's just a temporary fix. Someone gave me a lovely hardboard baseboard with some track and ballast already laid out. It's just 3" too big to fit in the office and I'm loath to dismantle it. The track runs very close end to end, so it's not even as if I can shave the extra inches off! I'll post some piccies later. I am keen to build my own from scratch though, so maybe it'll cure the itch until the plans have been finalised and track laid. I've got it on the dining room table at the mo (oh, SWMBO is very understanding!), but I want to power it up and run some trains round it. Didn't have a clue about connecting up though, so thanks for that! Is there much of a market for 2nd hand baseboards to be re-sold? How do you go about valuing them? |
| Camborner |
The two shotgun barrels are the clip that sticks into your powerclip. |
| TheThing |
Oh, yes then! |
| Teleman |
You shoud be okay just pushing the wires in the holes then . Not the best way of doing it but it will be okay to test things . My first layout back in the 60s had them with the wires pushed in and i can't remember it ever being any trouble |
| Joe |
The 'shotgun barrels' are what you can attach wires to, dont try without that is what i meant, I got my powerclip in my 1st trainset and it already had wires in the Shotgun barrels. I didn't think you had that sorry 
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