Joined: 05/07/2020(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Mississippi, Vancleave
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I am using M track on my layout and have a lot of wire running under the layout's baseboard. I am thinking of running all wiring within the base of the M track rather than under the baseboard. Has anyone done this? There appears to be a lot of empty space within the M track sections.
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Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 3,892 Location: Michigan, Troy
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Not if you are screwing down the tracks. There may be possible interference of current and digital signals. Do one long section and test it out.
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Joined: 20/05/2023(UTC) Posts: 214 Location: Wales, powys
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yes i run under m track and all so cross sections as well like other person says if you are fixing it perinatally down and need to fix it may be a problem how ever you get same problem if a switch motor needs fixing
hess
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 1 user liked this useful post by heinrichhess
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Joined: 09/07/2023(UTC) Posts: 39 Location: Delaware, Long Neck
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If you run your wires from both track and switches under the M track won't that require a lot more wire? How do you collect all your light wires and power wires from switches into distribution strips if not under the board? I run k track now but I did run M track for years and everything was under the board. I organized things using plastic wire holders and staples to channel the wiring.
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 1 user liked this useful post by FastEddie
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Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 481 Location: USA
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Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron  I am using M track on my layout and have a lot of wire running under the layout's baseboard. I am thinking of running all wiring within the base of the M track rather than under the baseboard. Has anyone done this? There appears to be a lot of empty space within the M track sections. That works ok for a temp layout, but not well for a more permanent or larger layout. Wires are more easily connected and combined (and error checked) under base. Just my opinion. Ben |
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 2 users liked this useful post by BenP
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Joined: 23/11/2008(UTC) Posts: 225 Location: Herning in Denmark
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My advice is:
Choose a color for center conductors + rail ( red & black/brown will be suitable ). Use a drill with a suitable thin drill for a wire from a rail + one from the center conductor, which is soldered on. Drill the two holes below, where the rail should be. Down with the two wires (Use long wires of 2-4 mtr, so that when you have solder, there is for the next wires. Under the table top you have drawn 1.5 square meters of solid wire (again in red & black/brown) and to these two you solder 2 thin wires. Keep the two wires separated by 5-10 cm and insulations are unnecessary. Use soldering and forget about anything with screws! This is how you continue with wires from the rails every 1-2 mtr. |
Best regards Jørgen St. from Herning in DK
H0 / Märklin K track / CS3+ / full digital / Epoke III +/- |
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Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,563 Location: Paris, France
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Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron  I am using M track on my layout and have a lot of wire running under the layout's baseboard. I am thinking of running all wiring within the base of the M track rather than under the baseboard. Has anyone done this? There appears to be a lot of empty space within the M track sections. Hi Mr Ron Running wires under the M trackbed is not a great idea (Pardon me). Why?: - much longer wiring - much less maintainable (doing a change is hell having to unscrew a lot of tracks - why not use wiring ducts (see image below). They exist in different shapes and size. They are U-shaped and closed by a clipsable top so making changes is a piece of cake  Cheers Jean |
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 2 users liked this useful post by JohnjeanB
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Joined: 23/11/2008(UTC) Posts: 225 Location: Herning in Denmark
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I want to make it simpler, because those boxes cannot be soldered in!
Instead, I will drill suitable small holes with e.g. 10 cm gap in the cross boards, which are normally part of the table construction and pull the continuous ring wires through (red & brown for the digital and maybe yellow & blue supply current for switches and signals). |
Best regards Jørgen St. from Herning in DK
H0 / Märklin K track / CS3+ / full digital / Epoke III +/- |
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Joined: 05/07/2020(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Mississippi, Vancleave
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Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB  Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron  I am using M track on my layout and have a lot of wire running under the layout's baseboard. I am thinking of running all wiring within the base of the M track rather than under the baseboard. Has anyone done this? There appears to be a lot of empty space within the M track sections. Hi Mr Ron Running wires under the M trackbed is not a great idea (Pardon me). Why?: - much longer wiring - much less maintainable (doing a change is hell having to unscrew a lot of tracks - why not use wiring ducts (see image below). They exist in different shapes and size. They are U-shaped and closed by a clipsable top so making changes is a piece of cake  Cheers Jean At 89, it's hard to work under the layout. I am also confined to a mobile scooter. All my work has to be above the layout where I can reach.
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