Ihc mehano 2-8-2 mikado and tender, running wires

[carpediem4570]

Good Evening All:

Per my previous post on running wires to the tender pickups, the lm-2S will be mounted in the tender. The nine wires coming out of the chip have a six pin male jst
Micro connector on the other end and a hole will be cut in the front of the tender to glue the jst micro connector in place.  This will allow me to separate tender from steam locomotive by attaching a female jst micro connector to the wires coming out of the locomotive.

Now the question:
Where to place the micro connector coming out of the tender.
The locomotive and tender have no wires running between them. 
I have two places to cut on the tender.  The first choice is right over the draw bar connecting tender to locomotive.  This allows for running three wires through the right side of the cab and three wires to the left side of the cab.  No wires would cross over the motor or moving parts.

The second choice is in the bottom left corner of the tender, running wires through the bottom left of the cab. Three wires would then run down the left side of the motor and three wires would come up and over the motor and down the right side of the motor.

Cab detail on this loco is non-existent as there is a lead weight at the back interior of the cab followed by the motor.  All discreetly hidden behind the rear cab wall of the loco.

Which would you choose and why. 

Kind regards,
OCD Max

[CPRail]

Hey Max,

I'd go with the centre location over the drawbar. Reason being, if there is any motion from the wire for whatever reason, it will be on the centreline of the loco & tender, and not offset to one side, thus reducing the chance of derailments due to said motion.

[gregeusa]

exactly, agree, over the drawbar

[carpediem4570]

Having had a chance to sleep on it, I agree with you two. Less chance for derailment and less flex on the wires.

Now, to start cutting and filing.

Thanks for the advice.

Kind regards,
Max