by Doug Stuard, NVNTRAK

Wiring

Bus Wire (Track Busses and DC Power Bus): 12-gauge stranded copper.  Red/black automotive “zip” wire, speaker wire or black low-voltage lighting wire with a “rib” molded along one conductor may be used.  Wire must be continuous (i.e., uncut) and extend the length of the module plus 12 inches at each end for connectors. 

Track Feeders: 22 AWG solid minimum, soldered to rail.  Feeders should be provided every two feet starting one foot from each module end.  Feeders should be attached to track bus using soldered, crimped or insulation displacement “Suitcase” (3M Scotchlok 567) connections.  Front rail (Rail “A”) feeders connect to the red or ribbed bus wire, rear rail (Rail “B”) feeders connect to the black or plain wire.  Turnouts should be fed from both ends (i.e., no “power routing”), with gaps or insulated joiners as required.  Rail joiners should be soldered except for insulating gaps.

Connectors

Connector Assembly

Connector: The Anderson PP30 Powerpole connector is comprised of a PP15/45 housing and contact a # 1331 contact.  The contacts will accommodate 12 to 16 gauge stranded wire. 

Contact attachment: Strip wire back approximately 5/16”.  Orient contact on wire for proper insertion into housing.  Smaller gauge wire may be folded double or triple as necessary.  Crimp or solder contact to wire.  (For a review of some available crimping tools, see http://www.ntrak.org/ntrak_powerpole_compare.htm). 

Assembly:  Hold housings with hood up and tongue down.  Insert wires with contacts attached (barrel up and tip down) into the appropriate connector housings.  Push the contacts in until the contact tips “click” over the retaining springs as shown below.  If you have difficulty, check for deformation of the contact barrel or excess solder remaining after attachment or excessively thick insulation which may interfere with contact insertion.  You may need to trim insulation and/or re-shape or file the contact barrel slightly to get an easy fit (A new, unused contact makes an excellent guide to use as a check after crimping). 

Refer to http://www.w5fc.org/pse_docs/KNOWLEDGE/anderson_powerpole_instructions.htm for more complete procedures.

Cinch-Jones Adapters

For each Powerpole equipped module or module set, one set of Left End and Right End adapters is must be provided.  Adapters should be 6” long and color coded with tape, paint or by using colored Powerpole shells in place of the red shell. 

Right End Adapters:

Track Bus - Powerpole Left End connector (black over red) to CJ male, wide pin (#1) to red, narrow pin (#2) to black), 6” long.

DC Power Bus - Powerpole Power Bus connector (red on left, black on right), to CJ male, wide pin (#1) to red, narrow pin (#2) to black).

Left End Adapters:

Track Bus - Powrpole Right End connector (red over black) to CJ female, wide pin (#1) to red, narrow pin (#2) to black).

DC Power Bus - Powerpole Power Bus connector (red on left, black on right), to CJ female, wide pin (#1) to red, narrow pin (#2) to black. 

Track Bus and Power Bus Adapters

Right end Track Bus adapter (6” long)

P-302-CCT

S-302-CCT

Bus extends 12” beyond end of module

Red Yellow Green Etc.

Module Front

Left end Track Bus adapter (6” long)

Bus extends 12” beyond end of module

1 2

1 2

S-302-CCT

Left end Power Bus adapter (6” long)

P-302-CCT

White

DC-   DC+

Right end Power Bus adapter (6” long)

1 2

1 2

Credits / Disclaimers / Etc.

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