Built my DCC shelf under the layout

[rrinker]

3 pieces of 1x2 for each bracket plus a shelf piece from Hoem Depot. Here's an overall shot:



more on my web site.

--Randy

[jhoblue]

I built my DCC shelf for the main power connections on my layout. Now I have to built the 'brackets' to mount it underneath.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.readingeastpenn.com/images/construction2/dccboard1.jpg">http://www.readingeastpenn.com/images/c ... board1.jpg</a><!-- m -->

Here is a overall view. On the left edge are connections for power for the PM42, and DCC in from teh booster. On the bottom left edge are the connections for Rail A and Rail B for sections 1-4.

In the middle is the booster. The terminal strip at the top center, from left to right is Rail A/B out, no connection, ground, and power in to the booster.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.readingeastpenn.com/images/construction2/dccboard2.jpg">http://www.readingeastpenn.com/images/c ... board2.jpg</a><!-- m -->

Here is a close-up of the PM42 side. Not installed is a short loconet cable to connect the booster and PM42. Each of those terminals is a ring terminal, not a spade (so I had to take the screws all the way out) and they are all crimped AND soldered - I do not trust crimp on connections. Short lengths of #18 wire feed the PM42 to the terminal strips - not a problem with such short lengths. The feed fromt he booster to the PM42 input terminal strip is #14. #18 is about as big as will fit in the edge connector solder eyelets, even that needed a little squeezing with pliers - the holes are oblong so flattenign the wire slightly allowed it to slip right in.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.readingeastpenn.com/images/construction2/dccboard3.jpg">http://www.readingeastpenn.com/images/c ... board3.jpg</a><!-- m -->

Another overall view, at an angle. I haven't figured out how to fasten down the MF615 power suppyl yet, but since it has holes in each of the 4 feet under it, I will probably mark the locations and put 4 screws in place to lock it in. The space to the left I kept open to allow room for a small circuit board with individual fuses so I can feed a fairly hefty power supply in and tap off multiple current limited circuits for lights and so forth.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.readingeastpenn.com/images/construction2/dccboard4.jpg">http://www.readingeastpenn.com/images/c ... board4.jpg</a><!-- m -->

Last one is the booster area in the center. From the lft, the terminals are power in A, poer in B, ground, no connection, rail A out, and rail B out. The rail conenctions are all #14 wire. I didn't have any black #14 so I doubled up some #18 black for the inputs - it's not even 6 inches of wire so I'm not worried about voltage drops. The green wire snaking over is the ground connection for the PM42. The little green wire on the DB150 connector is to configure it as a booster. I am using my Zephyr as the command station and the DB150 will power the track via the PM42. The Zephyr's track outputs will feed my stationary decoders.

The only reason I have a MagnaForce power supply is because I won it on eBay for $20, new in box. If I had to pay full price I probably would have gotten NCE's, which is usually $10 cheaper than the identical item from Digitrax.

Those little mounts for tie wraps I also use under the layout to tie up the bus wires. The sticky side is not strong enough to hold them worth a darn, but they have a hole in the middle that I run a small wood screw in to solidly mount them. The 'lip' for the tie wrap to go through butted up nicely against the case of the booster so I have one on each side plus one in the back which pretty much locks the DB150 in place, although I ran the tie-wraps over it to keep it from falling off if I tilt the shelf.

Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's



Visit my web site at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.readingeastpenn.com">www.readingeastpenn.com</a><!-- w --> for construction updates, message boards, and more.