Wiring Tortoises

Anderson and Girvan are both operational now, but the fascia needs installation.  Reading is the last town that needs Tortoises and wiring.  I think that will have to wait because I have the area filled with buildings.  Rather than place them around the layout, I’ve decided to paint and ballast all track except Redding.  Things go faster if I do as much as I can at once.  I have not installed any staging track yet.

Here are a few hints that I do when installing Tortoises:

1.  Original throw rods are replaced with K&S .039 wire.  Purchased in 3′ lengths and inexpensive compared to buying from Fast Tracks.  I do a couple of dozen at once.  Since my Tortoises are from previous layout, no drilling of rod hole was required.
2. Hold the rod with an alligator clip before trying to insert in Tortoise hole.
3. A mechanic’s chair from Harbor Freight makes working under the layout easier.  Tools are kept on ladder for easy reach.
4. Finger light purchased on Amazon makes getting rod into hole easier if there are shadows.
5. Strip all wires on the Tortoise before installing.  I did this to a few dozen while watching TV.
6. A good wire stripper is almost mandatory.  Again Amazon.
7. 1.5 mm solder works well for soldering to 12-gauge buss.  1 mm for feeders.
8. When soldering to buss, put iron directly on 12-gauge wire and flow solder then touch to feeders.  This is much quicker than placing iron on top of feeders initially.  Sorry for the blurry photo.