I hope I didn't miss an obvious post, but after all this time are there still no generic connectors that fit the Kato power plugs exactly (no need for a hot x-acto knife trimming)? There was one source in China, but they closed shop internationally. If you don't have a source for the connectors, where could I find a cheap extension cord perhaps so I can but the ends off them and have a male and female. Or just the female; the one that connects into the wire coming off the track. Also, I couldn't tell from the Kato catalog, but do the power connections come in different gauge wire? The ones I have are only 24 gauge. It would be nice to have 20. I want to be able to deliver 5 Amps to the track, though may have to just have 2 power districts.
The Kato connectors are Mini size Tamiya connectors. I bought some from Pololu [ www.pololu.com ] [Items 1936 and 1937], but you can do better elsewhere with cost. You'll need to mess around a bit though, as I've read that Kato's turnout controllers won't accept aftermarket male connectors. I'm not using Kato turnout controllers, so I've had good luck experimenting with the aftermarket connectors in everything else. It's easy to make the cables. I solder the wire to the pin and push it in place, no crimper needed. Mine will be a modestly-sized N Scale layout, so I've slightly increased my wire gauge on track power from Kato's 24 AWG to 22 AWG and with turnouts from Kato's 26 AWG to 24 AWG and use color-coded wire to keep Kato's standard intact. There are a number of TrainBoard members who know a lot more than I do about this. I look forward to reading their thoughts.
Thanks! I'll give that a try. The local hobby store is bike riding distance. I was avoiding the obvious though. For the last 25 years or so, the first thing I do with very piece of electrical equipment I buy, especially all my HAM Radio equipment and all my Radio control planes, cars, boats and helicopters is to cut off the connectors and and replace them with Anderson Powerpoles. The silver plated connects have such a low resistance, it would be a help even on N Scale. I have a bunch of red and black and yellow and green left. But they are the 30A ones. I guess I'll have to ponder.
30amp or 15amp, makes no difference in N scale (although for bus wires, which should be 12 or 14AWG you need to use 30). One of these days I plan to update the JACALAR to PowerPoles. Of course, all my FreeMo-N have them already (per standard).
I was thinking that the physical size of the 15s would be smaller. I don't remember if that is the case or if they just have different pins.
