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This section could take on a life of its own but I am going to try to keep it simple. If you dont feel comfortable
doing this part, find someone who is. We covered the battery part already so here we will focus on everything
after the battery. Most wire, switches, and fuses can be found at an auto parts
store such as Auto Zone, Pep Boys, or online.
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The simplest setup is shown here. This will give you a fuse and an on/off switch for the motor and a headlight.
Terminal blocks are used to help keep your wires more organized into positive and negative groups.
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I have discovered over the years that we like to be able to control the motor and the lights independently.
This allows us to stop the train for pictures but keep the lights on. Notice now there are two fuses in the
diagram. This will help isolate the lights on the other cars from the engine in case one of them shorts out.
Imagine if a car coupler cuts the light wires between cars during a turn. The lights fuse will blow but the
motor will still continue to run so your train is not a total loss for the evening. This will also help you
troubleshoot any issues as you would at least know the issue is with the trailing cars and not the engine.
Also note this diagram includes wiring for a plug to run wires back to the additional cars behind the engine.
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Now we will add in a way to charge the battery without having to take the connections off the battery terminals
each night. This will be called the Charging Port. The benefit of this item is you do not have to take off any
engine panels or make a hinged access compartment to the battery. The charging port will be accessible from the
outside of the engine and allow easy charging of the battery each night. Also included in this diagram is a
Volt Meter and an Amp Meter. The volt meter will tell you the volts or charge of the battery and the amp meter
will tell you how many amps are being pulled by the system while the train is running.
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Electrical Parts
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Terminal Blocks I used the word Terminal Blocks in the diagram because I did not want to confuse
anyone by using the word grounding bar. A terminal block can be used but you will have to add some
jumper wires between the screws to join all the connection points. I like to use grounding bars to
group my wires together. These can be found in home improvement stores by the electrical sub panels
and breakers. It is best to paint the top of one red (+) and the top of the other black (-) so you
can keep things straight. The lower picture on the left is a modified version of the standard grounding bar.
I grinded the ends smooth and moved the set screws around to get the length I needed. Painted the top black and
mounted it in the engine.
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Fuse Holders These inline fuse holders are easy to install.
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On/Off Toggle Switch I like to use illuminated On-Off Toggle Switches.
This makes them easier to see at night.
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Master Key Switch this is also known as a Battery Cut-Off Switch.
The keys are removable and helps isolate your battery from the rest of your electrical system.
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Charging Port For this I use a 4-Way Round trailer Connector (top)
and a 4-way Round Vehicle Connector (bottom). You only need two pins to connect the charger but this
is what was available at my local auto store. You will need to replace the clamps from the
battery charger leads with the trailer connector (top) to make this work.
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Train Car Connectors These 2-way flat trailer connectors are an easy way to connect your cars.
The plug ends are polarized and easy to connect.
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Amp Meter - This is nice to have but hard to read while the train is moving.
The analog needle bounces around. Buy a digital version of this and it will become
extremely useful. You will be able to analyze how much current (amps) your train
uses while climbing grades or pulling more cars. This will give you enough information
to level your track or lighten the load if needed.
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Volt Meter This is neat to look at and tells you the voltage of your battery.
Again, a digital version would be best.
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Wire Type I like to use 12 gauge stranded wire to connect everything between the battery
and the terminal blocks. I also use 12 gauge wire for the motor and for the charging port.
For everything else 16-18 gauge stranded wire is used depending on what I have on hand.
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Lights You can use any 12 volt lights you want. Think of anything that is used in a car,
truck, RV, boat, ATV, or even 12 volt landscape lights. The only thing you have to watch out for is how
much power they require. Running your train from battery power limits the number and wattage of lights
you can use. LED lights are more expensive but use much less power than conventional bulbs. LED's
would be a good choice if you are short on battery Amp/Hour capacity.
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