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Offline Mr. Ron  
#1 Posted : 01 October 2023 00:38:47(UTC)
Mr. Ron

United States   
Joined: 05/07/2020(UTC)
Posts: 311
Location: Mississippi, Vancleave
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.
Offline marklinist5999  
#2 Posted : 01 October 2023 13:14:47(UTC)
marklinist5999

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 3,139
Location: Michigan, Troy
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.
Offline heinrichhess  
#3 Posted : 01 October 2023 13:26:10(UTC)
heinrichhess

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/05/2023(UTC)
Posts: 214
Location: Wales, powys
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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Offline FastEddie  
#4 Posted : 27 October 2023 14:58:52(UTC)
FastEddie

United States   
Joined: 09/07/2023(UTC)
Posts: 6
Location: Delaware, Long Neck
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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Offline BenP  
#5 Posted : 27 October 2023 18:36:03(UTC)
BenP

United States   
Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 344
Location: Michigan, Ann Arbor
Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron Go to Quoted Post
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
Digital M (+ some K) track layout with mostly vintage rolling stock and accessories, and small Z scale layout.
https://youtube.com/play...0kgVYbh0CeDTF-bYXoD_2-V9
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Offline bygger01  
#6 Posted : 12 November 2023 20:56:20(UTC)
bygger01

Denmark   
Joined: 23/11/2008(UTC)
Posts: 188
Location: Herning in Denmark
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 +/-
Offline JohnjeanB  
#7 Posted : 12 November 2023 22:29:21(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,130
Location: Paris, France
Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron Go to Quoted Post
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
Sans titre.png
Cheers
Jean

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Offline bygger01  
#8 Posted : 13 November 2023 00:37:10(UTC)
bygger01

Denmark   
Joined: 23/11/2008(UTC)
Posts: 188
Location: Herning in Denmark
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 +/-
Offline Mr. Ron  
#9 Posted : 14 November 2023 01:32:48(UTC)
Mr. Ron

United States   
Joined: 05/07/2020(UTC)
Posts: 311
Location: Mississippi, Vancleave
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron Go to Quoted Post
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
Sans titre.png
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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