Block and Switch connections

[3030RICK]

Can someone out there tell me what devices are used to connect multiple blocks and switches to my transformer. Is one called a bus? I need something that will handle up to eight blocks and twelve switches.
Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks folks
3030rick

 

[UP2CSX]

Rick, yes, it's a bus. It can be as simple as two wires suspended under the layout to wires run in channels with multiple branches. The goal of any bus is to give all the electrical things, like switch machines and blocks, a source of power. The bus starts at the power source, like a power pack, and then runs out from there. Check the Kalmbach Books web site for a book called "Basic Wiring for Model Railroads". It has all the information you need.

 

[cv_acr]

A bus isn't a special device; the term refers to the main power distribution wires under the layout. The power feeders that are soldered to the individual rails are attached to the bus wire which runs back to your control panel or transformer. If you're running a DC layout with multiple blocks for two-train operation, or just a one-train switching layout or a DCC layout with multiple blocks/power sections for troubleshooting purposes, then each of those blocks or districts will have it's own bus from the block switches on the control panel.

Look into resources like the book mentioned by up2csx, and you can look at Atlas's track and electrical components for simple wiring (using common rail wiring) or you can get down to an electronics store and get toggle switches that you can install in a control panel.