Running point power cables

[keithb]

I have looked peoples layouts and am very impressed, but I have noticed that a lot of people have 'Telegraph poles' (just looking pretty) doing nothing. I have also seen that a lot of people bury (hide) the power cables to various stuff.
I have built my own Telegraph poles and thought it would be a good idea to run my power cables along these ready for my points.
Is this a good idea , does it look ok, take a look.

 

[Gizzy]

I'd say not, although it might look good?

If you have pets, children or wildlife, it's definitely no, as you'll be constantly repairing your lines.

But at the end of the day Keith, it's your train set....

 

[PhilP]

Looks pretty, if a little overscale, but not a good idea..
The cable is not particularly UV stable, will sag, and the insulation will eventually flake.. Then the fun really starts!
What others have said about children, animals, even visitors trying to 'rescue' loco's/stock.

Sorry, but if you want to run with it, as others have said.. Rule 8 applies to the whole infrastructure..

Oh, and you will need to be meticulous with your record-keeping, as to which wire goes where! - All the same colour, and if not, they will all end-up a grey-white colour, once the sun gets to them..
if you record the cable position on the pole, then that will help as well..

 

[playmofire]

By and large, the wires seem to follow the track and so why not use the LGB wire holders (thought they re pricey on a big layout) LGB 10710 Wire Holders x5/Chalk Garden Rail or devise something similar? Bunching the wires with straps would make the whole thing more rigid and reduce the number of supports you would need.

You could use the edges of the trestles to support them for some of the way round, too.

With the number of wires you have, domestic wiring conduit would be a possibility.

 

[dunnyrail]

Often advised even when I was a kid not to put wires on Poles as they will get knocked off etc. Also I bet you hate this advice, that they would have been better if most of the wires were at the rear I.E. Next to the fence, less likely to be knocked in that position but near the House that advice would be irrelevant. Long term I would look to run them in Electrical Trunking as I have advised many times before. Spray Painted Matt Grey looks like Concrete just like the real thing.

 

[GAP]

I have looked peoples layouts and am very impressed, but I have noticed that a lot of people have 'Telegraph poles' (just looking pretty) doing nothing. I have also seen that a lot of people bury (hide) the power cables to various stuff.
I have built my own Telegraph poles and thought it would be a good idea to run my power cables along these ready for my points.
Is this a good idea , does it look ok, take a look.

I quite like the idea.
I think I will use it when I build my new layout, it will be an elevated one so possibly less issue with pets (nil) children (none living with me) and wildlife (mostly birds where I am going, crocodiles keep the rest under control ).

I will not be using it for point wiring but as a lighting bus with drops to buildings although a bus for possible detection system as well. Probably use uninsulated wiring with line markers (coated in polyurethane).

 

[Rhinochugger]

I have looked peoples layouts and am very impressed, but I have noticed that a lot of people have 'Telegraph poles' (just looking pretty) doing nothing. I have also seen that a lot of people bury (hide) the power cables to various stuff.
I have built my own Telegraph poles and thought it would be a good idea to run my power cables along these ready for my points.
Is this a good idea , does it look ok, take a look.

That's a new take, and it looks good - a bit like a real railway

 

[Eaglecliff]

Stripping the insulation where it isn’t needed would reduce the out-of-scale issue if you can source a stainless steel conductor? Not an issue in a dry attic or shed?

 

[idlemarvel]

Nicely modelled and neat and tidy. IMO it would have been better to put them on the fence side of the track, from an access and track visibility point of view. Also picture two shows the wires turning almost at right angles between posts, in real life it would be more gradual and the vertical posts would have inclined support posts on the inside of the curve. I still think dunnyrail 's idea is the best for outdoor trackside cabling (post #5).

 

[Greg Elmassian]

You need to at least have UV resistant wire, and that is actually scarce, start with black wire and spray with Armorall every 6 months.

Even that said, it will be large and out of scale if you have wire large enough to carry the current you want.

Also, solid core wire would last longer, but I don't think it would "hang" as well and look as nice.

Be sure to dip the ends of the wire in liquid rubber stuff to keep moisture wicking up between the wires and the jacket (I'm assuming you are using stranded).

You've already been warned well enough how easy this is to be damaged.

I do like the idea, but getting scale wire that will last outdoors will be tough.

Greg