I am going to start a simple layour in a few weeks. I heard that 22 gauge wires is probably best. but the smallest that is easiest to find in Home depot is 18 gauge. Would that be ok.? I heard that Auto Zone/Kragen Auto parts would carry that gauge, but not have gotten in yet. Would you use a different color for each one, so its easier to trace if there is a problem. have different color positives, but same negatives. Any help would be great.
love any kind of train
Save gas, save your energy, save your time, order online. I order from allelectronics.com . They have all the wire sizes you would want in many colors. Use red to throw the switch normal, black to throw it reverse and white or green for the common.
Are you planning to wire for DC or DCC ?
Alton Junction
Frys.com the cheapest of all the internet places. 100 foot roll of 22 solid tinned is $4.99 .Similiar savings on other gauges solid or stranded.
Bob D As long as you surface as many times as you dive you`ll be alive to read these posts.
I was thinking of doing a dc layout to begin with and as money would allow converting over to a dcc layout. I have heard that a dcc layout is easier overall.
Would it be difficult to convert over from a dc to dcc?. Thanks.
Running analog DC with moderately heavy power draws I find #22 feeders adequate. If you are going to run DCC, the #22 feeders should be VERY short connections to much heavier bus wires. DCC is much more sensitive to voltage drop than analog DC, so if your feeders are more than a few inches long you should go to a larger (lower number) wire.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
tomikawaTT Running analog DC with moderately heavy power draws I find #22 feeders adequate. If you are going to run DCC, the #22 feeders should be VERY short connections to much heavier bus wires. DCC is much more sensitive to voltage drop than analog DC, so if your feeders are more than a few inches long you should go to a larger (lower number) wire. Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I agree with Chuck on this one. #22 feeder wires will be adequate, no need for heavier guage. The bus wires should be #14 gauge (common house wire) and the feeder wires should be soldered to the bus wires. A later conversion from DC to DCC will be pretty easy with this wiring setup.
Rich