Help with ME #6 Code 55 Turnouts

[chuck geiger]

Many thanks off to get me some 22 AWG and get at it.

[mmagliaro]

Chuck,

I know you're getting information thrown at you from multiple sources.   I just wanted to check one more thing here.
Did you want these turnouts to provide power routing to those spurs?  When the turnout is thrown *against* one of the spurs, do you want that spur dead so that a train parked there will not move until you line the turnout into that spur?

If so, then connecting jumpers to the spur rails, as has been suggested, may not be what you want.  It will get your trains going, but both outgoing legs from the turnout will be live all the time that way.   

Just make sure that's okay with how you want to operate before you do it this way.

[peteski]

Good advice here.  And as has been said, it ain't complicated...
. . .
To keep things straight, color code the wires you use.  I use red 22AWG solid-core copper wire for the track nearest the edge of the layout, and black 22AWG solid-core copper wire for the other track.  As Peter ( @peteski ) has mentioned numerous times, you can use finer wire just as effectively...but solid-core is easiest to use.
 . . .

Thanks for remembering Bob. IMO, there is no need for heavy gauge feeders for N scale. If anybody is interested in more technical details, see this thread.

[chuck geiger]

Nurse stat we're going in....

[peteski]

That's the spirit!

Looking at the picture, I like to make couple of observations:
Lead-free solder might not be the best choice for this type of work. I prefer the 63/37 electronic solder due to its eutectic properties.

You would also benefit from use of soldering flux.  @robert3985  should chime in with his Superior flux recommendation. My favorite is Radio Shack Electronic Paste Flux. Not sure if that is still available. But there are many good electronic-type fluxes available (like what Bob uses).

Actually, this thread has some excellent info about soldering.

I'm not trying to be preachy. I just like to let you know that having the right soldering supplies makes soldering a breeze (instead of a dreaded chore).

[chuck geiger]

I also don't know about the door bell wire. It is 20 AWG, solid. It's pretty rigid. Yeah going back to Home Depot. Real
limited here in Alaska. There is a Auto/Marine/Hardware store here, will look for better wire if this wont cut it. Yep, need
flux and a better solder. Thanks Pete.

[peteski]

I also don't know about the door bell wire. It is 20 AWG, solid. It's pretty rigid. Yeah going back to Home Depot. Real
limited here in Alaska. There is a Auto/Marine/Hardware store here, will look for better wire if this wont cut it. Yep, need
flux and a better solder. Thanks Pete.

Yeah, that is a bit heavy for N scale.  I think that thermostat wire is also the same gauge.  Maybe they sell telephone wire (the 2-pair solid wire with red/green/black/yellow wires)?  That will be lighter gauge.  Also CAT-5 network cable uses solid wire but I think some members here will think it is too light of a gauge to use (I think it would work just fine for short feeders).

[chuck geiger]

Amazon is my friend....

FEEDER
https://www.amazon.com/NTE-Electronics-WHS22-00-100-Solid-Length/dp/B008CFELUK/ref=sr_1_17?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1529992408&sr=1-17&keywords=22+awg+wire+SOLID

BUS
https://www.amazon.com/600-Gauge-THHN-Wire-Color/dp/B000NNKWFC/ref=sr_1_17?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1529992319&sr=1-17&keywords=14+awg+wire+solid

SOLDER
https://www.amazon.com/Kester-Rosin-Core-Solder-Dispense-Pak/dp/B00AVLM4SO/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1529992888&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Kester+%2244%22%2C+63SN37PB%2C+rosin+core%2C+0.020%22

FLUX PASTE
https://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals-Liquid-Leaded-Solder/dp/B008UH4DT4/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1529992963&sr=1-1&keywords=MG+Chemicals+835+Rosin+Flux

[Point353]

I also don't know about the door bell wire. It is 20 AWG, solid. It's pretty rigid. Yeah going back to Home Depot. Real
limited here in Alaska. There is a Auto/Marine/Hardware store here, will look for better wire if this wont cut it. Yep, need
flux and a better solder.

For the solder and flux, you may want to try the O'Reilly auto parts store in Juneau.
They appear to stock 60/40 rosin core solder and paste flux under the Firepower brand name.
P/N's are 1423-1110 for the solder and 1423-1101 for the paste flux.

As for the wire, check the reels on the cut-to-length rack at Home Depot.
If they don't have any single conductor stranded wire in the 20-22AWG size range, see if they have any two-conductor jacketed cable from which you can then remove the jacket to yield the individual wires.

[chuck geiger]

Thanks Point -Going Amazon for the stuff Pete recommended on the post.

[Point353]

Amazon is my friend....

FLUX PASTE
https://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals-Liquid-Leaded-Solder/dp/B008UH4DT4/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1529992963&sr=1-1&keywords=MG+Chemicals+835+Rosin+Flux

Going Amazon for the stuff Pete recommended on the post.

Is the flux you ordered liquid or paste type?

[davefoxx]

My favorite is Radio Shack Electronic Paste Flux. Not sure if that is still available. But there are many good electronic-type fluxes available (like what Bob uses).

I have a tin of paste flux that I'm fairly certain that I bought at Radio Shack over twenty years ago.  It hasn't dried out and is proving to be a lifetime supply!

DFF

[MK]

I have a tin of paste flux that I'm fairly certain that I bought at Radio Shack over twenty years ago.  It hasn't dried out and is proving to be a lifetime supply!

DFF

You and I both!

[chuck geiger]

Ordering tonight....Looks liquid. Getting 20-22 awg feeder and 14 gauge bus with paste and solder.

[peteski]

I have a tin of paste flux that I'm fairly certain that I bought at Radio Shack over twenty years ago.  It hasn't dried out and is proving to be a lifetime supply!

DFF

They still carry it: https://www.radioshack.com/products/rosin-soldering-paste-flux