I'm laying track and am about ready to start stringing bus wires under the roadbed. Most of the layout will run on about a 27" shelf. Given that in some places there might be up to 8 or 9 parallel tracks, will one set of bus wires be sufficient under this much track or should I run a second set? I'll be using 12 guage wire for the bus and probably 18 for the feeders. System will run with the Digitrax SEB.
Somewhere I read that I should "test" to see if I have enough current fed to all rails by doing the "quarter" test. If the breaker pops, then should I assume I have sufficient current flow to that track? And I plan to purchase an RRampmeter soon.
john
One 12ga buss (2 wires) will be just fine. Use IDC/Suticase connectors to run a short jumper wire (I use 12 ga) from each power buss to a terminal strip. Then run your 18ga track jumper wires from each set of tracks to the terminal strip. I use spade connectors so I can disconnect track jumper wires to find shorts.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
Im about at the same spot on my 28'x14' shelf layout. Im using 12ga buss wires with 20ga feeders. I havent been able to find anyone who makes suitcase connectors for 12ga abd 20ga.
I use 12ga-16ga IDC, but I use 18ga feeders. I strip the end of the 18ga feeder and bend it back on the insulated portion of the wire. I then crimp the IDC on the wires. I have done it this way for over five years and never had a problem.