A Different Kind of Dry Fit

You all know about the standard definition of dry fit: putting the house together with tape so fittings can be adjusted before committing to glue. Well, the electrical system has provided two more definitions: 1) giving the electrician fits and 2) pre-planning the tape runs'

First, about the electrician's fits. This house will use a new-to-me system for delivering electricity to the house. I learned about it in a YouTube video, How to Electrify a Dollhouse by Dollhouses, Trains & More, which was shared by a Greenleaf Forum colleague. They use a direct power system devised by Creative Reproductions 2 Scale. I went on line several weeks ago and ordered the supplies I thought I'd need, including two different power connectors. The video is wonderful, except ... it shows a Mini Power Connector being attached to the tape wire using two wires, one red, one black.

This is the Mini Power Connector. The cord from the power source goes into one end and the red and black wires that connect to the tape wire come out the other end.

I didn't have two wires, one red and one black. I hied off to Home Depot, where I discovered I could buy 300' of cable the size of my wrist, but very little in the size I needed. I didn't know what size or type I needed. I bought something that looked close, but when I got it home it was too big to fit into the little holes meant to hold it. I cut up a couple cords I found in the electronics box of dead devices, but no joy there, either.

I phoned Carl Sahlberg, the inventor, to find out what kind of wire I'd need, but he didn't answer. I went off to Walmart, thinking I could find a lamp repair kit. Nothing. But I did get a call back from Carl, who told me I needed Kynar hookup wire, 28 AWG. Hookup wire -- who knew that was a thing? He sells it on his website, but I couldn't see spending about $16 for two 50-foot spools, one red and one black, when all I'd need was about four inches of each. He asked what I was trying to accomplish, then told me the Power Connector comes with a couple of brass screws that can connect with the tape wire -- no hookup wire needed. The light came on! I'd ordered two power connectors, the Mini Power Connector (above) and a Power Connector with Fuse, as I was not sure exactly what I'd need for the project. The latter is the one that connects to the tape wire and is the one I should have been using. As I was following the video, I'd left it in the box.

These are the components finally assembled. See the Power Connector with its screws, one to hold it to the house and two to connect to the tape wire. It also has double sticky tape on the back. This Power Connector with Fuse has a Mini Connector as part of the device so it can be used with round wire as well as tape wire. The Bambam is a device with a strong spring in the center. Stretch it and let go, and "bam! bam!" the eyelet is slammed home. Am looking forward to trying it out on some scrap before I use it in the house. It is rated very highly on line.

The Power Connector is not lovely to look at, but I'm sure some shrubbery will hide it. It will probably be located below one of the bay windows, which will also conceal it.

Once all supplies were assembled, all of the light fixtures were placed back in the house.

The light fixtures are staged near where they will go preparatory to establishing the tape runs.

The blue painter's tape is sketching out where the tape wire will go. It was a challenge to find the shortest runs with the fewest connections. The little white circles indicate where a fixture will be attached to the tape wire. The circles on the floor will be the connections for the ceiling lights in the floor below. In some of the 90-degree turns the tape can be folded rather than pieced with eyelets.

I'm planning to add Houseworks flooring to all of the floors, so the tape wire will be covered/protected. The ceiling light in the top center hall will be wired inside the hollow tower.

There are two unsettled electrical items. The hanging light in the room top left is a bit of a puzzle. Going through the ceiling means going through the roof, which I'd rather not do. I may have to put in a faux ceiling in this room, which I'm envisioning as the maid's room. There will be an antique Tiffany lamp on a table in a small bay in the living room. I'm not sure how that will be resolved. A wall outlet? Drill a hole in the table and run the wire down through it?

The next step will be to put the furniture back into the house to verify that the intended outlets and connections are in the right place. I want to know exactly where the tape wire needs to go before I get started installing it.

Let the electrification begin!

So, the Beacon Hill has been on a slight hiatus while the ceiling rosettes went missing. No point in starting the electrical work until they are in place, as two chandeliers must be installed in conjunction with them. Turned out they were hiding under a pile of lights. When I dug down, there they were.

Before they were glued in place, each had a hole drilled in the center to accommodate the wires, and they were painted to match the ceiling. This was done while the house was still on its head. It will be turned right side up while the tape wire is installed.

The dining room rosette is slightly smaller, a better scale in this room.

The living room rosette is a bit larger, as befitting the grandeur of the room in which most guests are entertained.

This is a very short entry, just enough to let you know I'm still working. The next post will have photos of the tape wire and lighting in progress.

Sunroom - Casey Mini's Wicker Furniture

Many moons ago I won a set of wicker furniture on Casey Mini's website. I think it was around 2012.  I don't remember how I came to win it. I think it was the luck of a draw. At any rate, I was delighted to have it. It followed me from Missouri to New Orleans and Atlanta, waiting for just the right setting. Today that setting dropped into my lap. I went to Pike's Nursery to talk about trees for my backyard. But as I was walking out, sitting right in front of my nose was this sunroom! I know, it is supposed to be a terrarium, but really, where will I find a better sunroom?

I really like the sloping roof and that it is already primed. I'm thinking egg carton bricks or stones to make a foundation and camouflage the drawer. I gave up my stash of egg cartons when we left Missouri, but I've been replenishing the supply since I moved here. The knob can be replaced by something smaller that will blend into the bricks/stones. The floor will probably be tile; not sure how that will happen -- ceramic? paper clay? egg carton flagstone? Greenleaf vinyl tiles? 

There was a white wire birdcage and stand in the box with the furniture. I don't remember if it came from Casey or whether I put it in there just because it's perfect for the scene. 

Casey included extra fabric for curtains. I'm not sure if this room will have curtains. Probably not, but it's nice to have it, just in case.

I can see potted plants here, some leafy, some vining upward. I'm not sure about the back wall. Something needs to happen to all that glass. Should I make a brick template with a faux window into the non-existent house? Make it stone, with vines stretching up around a tiny fountain? Lattice? 

It will be fun to whip this little jewel into shape while still working on the Beacon Hill, she says optimistically.

Watch this space!