I am new to Fastrack and need to extend my remote switches and wires from my transformer due to a two level layout. I know to get 18 gauge 3 piece wire to extend the remote switches, but can I just twist the ends together? What is the best wire to extend from the CW80 transformer? Again, do I just twist the ends together? Sorry if this is a very simplistic question, I'm not much of an electrician.
Thanks from my kids and me!
You can twist the wires together, but then they need to be isolated from one another. If you use wire caps (small plastic caps that twist over the exposed areas of the wires) and then tape them with a decent electrical tape you will be OK. Each wire must be individually capped and taped as well. These are all things you can get at any home supply store, and won't cost very much. The tape is just a few dollars, and the caps (depending on how many per package) are just a few cents each. You don't want to leave these wires exposed, because if they touch each other a short will occur, and will either trip the fuse each time, or seriously damage your switch, and/or transformer, possibly resulting in fire.
Somone else can help you more with the gauge of wire to use. I recall hearing that 18awg is standard, but others may have better advice to offer there.
Hope this helps! Good luck to you!
If you can get it 16 gauge wire with three conducter would be better, commonly used on air conditioning thermostats. Taping is not needed if you use wire caps, it is over kill. Like demon09 mentioned most hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowes will have this. You may want to buy a wire stripper while there to strip the ends of the wire bare.
One important thing, unplug the transformer to work on the electrical.
Lee F.
Wire nuts will do the job, but you can keep things a little neater and make it easier to trouble shoot if you use terminal strips like this to extend your wiring.
They can be purchased from several sources. Radio Shack did stock them, not sure if they do any more. This is a good source on the net.
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?type=store&category=755&orderby=INVENTORY%2Estore%5Fquantity%2CORGANIZATION%2Ecategory%2CINVENTORY%2Ebrand%2CINVENTORY%2Emodel&start=0
You can also purchase the nylon terminal strips in longer lengths and cut off the amount that you need for a particular aplication.
Hope this helps.
If you run the wires from the controller to a terminal strip and then run from there to your turnout you can keep from cutting the wires.This way you don't ruin anything.I use 18 guage thermostat wire,which has three different color wires inside a sheath.Just keep the color code the same on all your tracks and you should have no problems.
Ed
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