This is above my expertise, but I have been told by an electronics expert that the high-frequency signals used by DCC and other systems travel on the surfaces of the wire than within it. Thus, any scratch, cut, or other variance in that surface can affect signal transmissions. My own system is still in the dark ages--one or two control blocks, 110v Variac, 19B x-former, plate rectifiers, only a few gaps to head off short circuits. Sorry. Dave Engle
--- On Fri, 2/8/13, vito4cal <[email protected]> wrote: From: vito4cal <[email protected]> Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: suitcase connectors To: [email protected] Date: Friday, February 8, 2013, 12:23 PM --- In [email protected], "wb4hay" wrote: > > I will be starting to wire my new layout soon and I thought I'd get your > opinions on the "suitcase connectors" I saw in the Micro Mart book. These are > the kind that you clamp them with pliars on the bus wire and it connects to > the wire that goes over to the track. I could see arguments both pro and con. > > Kelly Johnson > ================================================================== Hi Kelly: I read your question as one about the quality of the suitcase connectors carried by Micro Mart even though the discussion veered towards whether one should use them. Several of the DCC lists I read have discussed quality issues with suitcase connectors and I believe the consensus is to only use the 3M brand versions. The other knock offs are garbage. Based on that advice, 3M is the only brand I use and I have had no problem with electrical failure at these connections. I do not know what brand Micro Mart sells. I have gotten my connectors at various big box stores and automotive stores. As to the question of whether one should use them, I like using the connectors underneath the layout instead of dripping solder on my head. Just an opinion of course. :-) John Gibson Rocklin, CA
