Wiring

[ogauge]

 

Agreed on the 14 gage wire for the tracks & also as bus wire for the accessory circuit.

[3railguy]

I have never liked wiring with speaker wire. Especially the cheaper grade stuff. It doesn't seem to strip as easily as the automotive variety. With the cheap stuff, when I separate, the two leads, sometimes one lead will shear the insulation of the other lead, leaving me with one lead of bare wire. Automotive wire is available in large spools in various colors such as green, red, blue, and white. 20 gauge is OK for switches and accessories but for running trains, 16 or 14 gauge is the norm. Preferably 14 gauge. Especially if you are using or plan to use command control.

[lionelsoni]

Size your wire for the maximum current that your transformer can put out:

10 AWG, 30 A
12 AWG, 20 A
14 AWG, 15 A
16 AWG, 10 A
18 AWG, 7 A
20 AWG, 5 A

[A&Y Ry]

I don't know the size of your layout/operation. But if fairly large, buy 100' rolls of 14 gauge stranded copper from Lowe's or Depot[4 colors,red,green, blue and yellow + black and white as I recall].

You can get smaller size rolls from NAPA and other auto suppliers in 4-5 colors. Automotive and Industrial Fastener sources carry machine and appliance wire in up to 9 colors and stripes in 50', 100' and larger rolls. In my town Automotive Fastener, Inc and Piedmont Fastners, Inc, as well as Grainger---all, carry #18--#10 gauge. They also carry a broad range of ring and spade lugs, terminal boards, plate jumpers,etc,etc. Electric suppliers such as GE and Graybar also carry a complete, full line of anything you need, but many times will only sell to Sparktricians and businesses.

[ADCX Rob]

That will work fine until you get up to some higher current demands.  He was kind of easy on you sending you elsewhere for cheap wire - he probably could have sold you some expensive "hobby wire".

Rob 

[dbaker48]

bheron - Speaker wire is fine, but size is important.  I would recommend 14 awg for a small to moderate size layout for transformer to track.  Larger size if it is a large layout.  Accessories 18 awg would be fine.  IMO 20 awg is kinda small and should be used sparingly.

[Anonymous]

I stopped at a LHS yesterday (not a good one) and asked if he had wire to wire my setup - transformer and accessories.  He suggested just using speaker wire?  I think he said #18 or #20 guage?  Is that right?