Ep 99 Wiring Lionel accessories with Terminal Blocks

Terminal blocks de-mystified! Plus a mini-clinic on hot soldering (vs. cold soldering) and simple explanations on how to wire your Lionel accessories to terminal blocks! What could be simpler?
#MadeWithFilmora!

[@andycrawford9870]

Thanks for info. Was difficult to see as your hands were in the way and held a little high.

[@thetrainboard2772]

So far, I'm uncomfortable taking my soldering iron under the trainboard, fearful of dripping solder on myself. So i splice the wires together with a twisted t then use a 1 inch long shrink wrap with my heatgun. Not certain of long term but certainly electrical tape seems useless with really poor quality, tape failing within months. So far shrink wrap seems a good alternative. Thanks for your videos. Gary j

[@TrainsnPlanes]

If I'd known back in the 80's what would happen with electrical tape, I'd have bought two or three cases of it!
I've never dropped solder on myself - grabbed the iron a couple of times, that's about it. The key to it is to get a good soldering iron and LET THE THING FULLY HEAT UP before you start. Next, don't cold weld. Always keep the iron against the wires long enough to heat them - the solder flows into the wires. Shouldn't drip. You'll know you did it right if the solder is shiny. If it's dull, the wires didn't heat enough.

[@williamkaczmarek3996]

At about 11:20 into the discussion/demonstration you began trimming strands of conductors to make the connector fit. I'd be very careful with that practice.

[@MrMnesci]

you lost me at 12:15 minutes into the video...i wanted to see where there lines were coming from and where they were going to

[@TrainsnPlanes]

right to the power supply for the railroad. Wires from accessories to terminal blocks, those in turn connect to the power supply, the accessory outlets. Another way you can do it is to have an accessory extender track, and hook it up there, but that seems like a fiddly and possibly overheating/dangerous way to do it. I'm not sure why, can't articulate it.