I have a small layout that is L shape 9x9x9. My question is when hooking up the power from the power bus I was advised to use 14 gauge wire, with 18 gauge wire for the feeder lines. Would there be a problem if used 12 or 16 gauge instead of the the 14 gauge? I am having difficulty in finding the 14 gauge wire. I have plenty of 18 and 20 gauge from previous DC projects.
I would appreciate any advise on this topic.
Thanks
I have cheated a lot for the same reasons, especially with feeder wires and have had no problems. It is my opinion that the large wires are for: 1) safe standardization and 2) enough for even the largest club layout. As I add and rewire I am trying to use the recommended size, but I am not redoing all the feeder wires even now.
I will track this thread to what what others are experiencing.
Hi Gary
How many amps are we talking about? For a five amp system 14g is good. Any auto parts store should have 14G wire. 16g should be fine for short runs.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
12 or 16 gauge would be fine on a layout that size, but 14 is probably the most common wire used in house wiring (if you are in the US, if not that may not be so true) and should be very widely, and relatively cheaply available. 20 or even 22 would be fine for feeders, as long as you have enough of them.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
My layout is 5x12 feet. That's a bit smaller than yours, but not much. I run a 5-Amp DCC system. I use 18-gauge for my bus, and 22 gauge for feeders. This seems to be plenty for me. I don't notice any variation of performance around the layout.
Of course, even though the system is rated at 5 Amps, I'm not really using anything close to that. What's more important than the rating of the system is the load. Unless you are running several consists, or lots of sound engines, or lots of illuminated passenger cars, then the heavier gauge wire is overkill. Nothing wrong with heavier wire, of course, but it's not going to give you better performance on a small layout.
I think 12-gauge wire is the standard for household circuits now, as it will support 20-amp breakers. If your house is wired with 14-gauge wire, then you shouldn't use more than 15-amp breakers. If I'm wrong, somebody please correct me on that, OK?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Mr. Beasley-
Your numbers on the breakers and wire gauge are correct. Kitchens and bathrooms have to be on 20A circuits. 'General' lighting and outlets may be an 20A circuits, but the standard is gnerally 15A, though with more and more electical gear in the house 20A circuits are becoming more common, or more 15A circuits. In 'mass produced' homes it is almost always going to be 15A, as the wire is cheaper.
Gary 740 wrote: I have a small layout that is L shape 9x9x9. My question is when hooking up the power from the power bus I was advised to use 14 gauge wire, with 18 gauge wire for the feeder lines. Would there be a problem if used 12 or 16 gauge instead of the the 14 gauge? I am having difficulty in finding the 14 gauge wire. I have plenty of 18 and 20 gauge from previous DC projects.I would appreciate any advise on this topic.Thanks
Use the 18 gauge wire. You'll be fine.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Gary 740 wrote:I have a small layout that is L shape 9x9x9. My question is when hooking up the power from the power bus I was advised to use 14 gauge wire, with 18 gauge wire for the feeder lines. Would there be a problem if used 12 or 16 gauge instead of the the 14 gauge? I am having difficulty in finding the 14 gauge wire. I have plenty of 18 and 20 gauge from previous DC projects.I would appreciate any advise on this topic.Thanks
Not to worry. 18 gauge will be fine. The advice to use 14 gauge is reasonable, 'cause 14 gauge is widely used for house wiring , is easy to get new or used, is easy to strip and mechanically rugged. But electrically it is overkill, 18 will be fine especially if the longest run is only 9 feet. So use the wire you have on hand, it will work just fine.
From the copper wire table:
No 14 2.525 ohms/1000 ft
No 18 6.385 ohms/1000 ft
A 10 foot loop (10 out, 10 back) of No 18 will have a resistance of 0.012 ohms, which is negligible for all practical purposes. Even with 10 amps flowing( ten locomotives all moving at the same time, unlikely given the size of your layout), the voltage drop would be 0.12 volts which is neglible.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I plan to use 12 ga solid coper wire for my buss and 18 ga for jumpers for my new layout. I usually buy my wire a Lowes or Home Depot. The new layout will utilze terminal strips and suitcase connectors.
I currently have a 12' x 22' modular oval set up on a temporary basis. I used all 18 ga stranded wire for this temporary setup, as I had a lot of this wire from an old layout. I have no problems with voltage drop. I use Digitrax Chief DCC. I have had up to six (mix of Atlas, Athearn and PK2) locomotives in operation at the same time with no problems.
JIM
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
I wired a 20 x 40 foot HO scale club layout with stranded speaker wire from Wal-mart and we have had no problems with voltage loss even when running multiple sound-equipped engines. 14 Gauge for a power bus is overkill for a layout your size.
These days over here in Oz everything is measured in mm, so I dunno what gauge is what but I have just purchased 5mm for the bus and 3mm for the droppers for my own layout that work has just commenced on.
With extension leads purchased here in australia the only difference in those rated 10 amp 250v and 15 amp 250v is the earth pin on the sockets is several mm wider on the 15 amp, all the wire is the same size.