voltage drop and wire size

[Hamltnblue]

Yes, 16 gauge will be fine.  If you are ever in question just do this.  Take the length you want to use and add a few feet or even a couple of sections of track. Then hook it up to the booster.  Short the wires.  If the booster trips you're fine. I typically go one step larger to make sure I'm ok.

At the club we recently found out that a section has inadequate gauge wiring on  a section.  After several years the connectors between the modules have deteriorated enough that the last 25 percent of the run does not trip the booster. 

 

[mfm37]

If the length of the longest wire from booster to end of run is 20 feet, 16 ga should be adequate. If 20 feet of 16 ga is being added to the end of a 20 foot 14 ga bus wire, that should also be adequate. More than 20 feet (40 feet out and back) would be pushing it.

Martin Myers

[richhotrain]

subman

I have run out of the #14 gauge wire that I was using to run from my centralized block detector location to my individual track feeder terminal block locations. I have plenty of #16 stranded wire left so can I use that and not have too high a voltage drop? The length of the longest wire is 20 feet and the maximum current would be 2 amps The layout common is a single # 10 in the form of a T with each leg 25` long and the leg from the booster to the horizontal  legs of the T is 5`.

 

So, what's the bottom line?  Can he use #16 stranded wire?

Rich

[Texas Zepher]

And if we want to get really technical there is also the current that is carried through the track.  I am not willing to do the math to merge the tables but am guessing that would make up for some minor deficiencies in a bus.

[cacole]

From the Copper Wire Table in the technical publication Handbook of Electronic Tables & Formulas by Sams Publications, a solid AWG 16 copper wire has a nominal 4.02 Ohms resistance per 1,000 feet at 20 degrees C, so the voltage drop over 20 feet would be quite insignificant.  For comparison purposes, an AWG 14 solid copper wire has a nominal 2.52 Ohms resistance per 1,000 feet at 20 degrees C.

The second part of your question has too many variables to have a definitive answer.

[rrinker]

 Also, if you DO use a better quality #16 that IS all copper, it will have less resistence, therefore be just fine for the OP's purpose. ie, the chart is worst case, it can only get better.

 An even better example of how people go overboard is seen on his feeder wire comparison section, which shows that even if you have to make a feeder over a foot long it's not going to kill your trains.

                           --Randy

 

[jrbernier]

subman

Jim I find that chart hard to believe even with his explanation of why the 18 gauge has a lower resistance than the 16 when he says that a 16 gauge and BELOW may not be pure copper. Well an 18 gauge is smaller or lower than a 16 gauge

Did you read his note below the chart?  He admits that there is a problem there, and has not tried another batch of #16 wire.  The basics are there and shows what happens when you go 'cheap' on wire size...I beleive he goes a little overboard sometimes!

Jim

[Hamltnblue]

Here's a link that explains the calculations.

Something that you also have to consider is that the distance is typically in linear feet.  Since you have  2 conductors the length has to be doubled.  The power goes out one conductor and returns on the other.

http://www.securityideas.com/howtocalvold.html

[subman]

Jim I find that chart hard to believe even with his explanation of why the 18 gauge has a lower resistance than the 16 when he says that a 16 gauge and BELOW may not be pure copper. Well an 18 gauge is smaller or lower than a 16 gauge

[jrbernier]

  Here is a link to the 'Wiring for DCC' web page:

http://www.wiringfordcc.com/trakwire.htm

  They have nice chart that shows 'loss' for various sizes of wire.  It looks like you will lose about .5 v under a 2 amp load on your 20' run with #16 wire.

Jim

[selector]

I can't answer your last question...that'll come from someone shortly, but 16 gauge wire is approved for transmission of 3.7 amps continuous.  So, I would think your needs will be well met, and that you have nothing to fear.

Crandell

[subman]

I have run out of the #14 gauge wire that I was using to run from my centralized block detector location to my individual track feeder terminal block locations. I have plenty of #16 stranded wire left so can I use that and not have too high a voltage drop? The length of the longest wire is 20 feet and the maximum current would be 2 amps The layout common is a single # 10 in the form of a T with each leg 25` long and the leg from the booster to the horizontal  legs of the T is 5`.

As a side question, What is rhe maximum allowable voltage drop in percentage allowed for DCC?                                                                  

                                                                           Thanks