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How To Go About Wiring a Long Block to Keep Voltage Up, in HO DC??

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Thursday, February 5, 2009 1:04 PM

Yes it's feasible and then some.

It all depends on how much current you plan on pulling. 

You can use a bus of 14AWG, and 18->20AWG feeders (< 1 foot) every three feet.  This should cover 99% of all your needs.  Use copper wire!

If you put the power supply in the middle, this is roughly a 20 feet round trip circuit.  That's roughly a 0.2 Volt drop with a 3 amp load.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Thursday, February 5, 2009 11:27 AM

Tanked,

Solder your rail joints and you will have no problems, one feeder per block will be fine! Use 18 guage wire if your runs are long, then use smaller wire for the track connection.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 239 posts
How To Go About Wiring a Long Block to Keep Voltage Up, in HO DC??
Posted by TankedEngine on Thursday, February 5, 2009 11:20 AM

I would like to have a run of about 20' as 1 block in a planned DC layout.

Is that electrically feasible?

Can I run several wires off the  selector switch for this block to different terminal positions on the block to keep the voltage up within the block?

If so, assuming Code 83 track, roughly what spacing between terminals should I be planning for?

Thank you

Tanked

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