HERETIC ALERT!
I use 18 gauge stranded wire. I have no problems. My layout just isn't big enough that larger wire is necesssary.
I have my layout broken into power districts, using PSX breakers from Tony's Trains. I've got two older PS-REV solid state auto-reverse units, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Way back in the dark ages, there were no nice crimp connectors to connect wires together. Almost everything was soldered. Most ran solid, sometimes uninsutated, wire around the layout. The feeders were dropped down from the track and wrapped around the trunk line. Then soldered together. I was 8 or 9 and remember helping my Dad solder the wires under the layout. The soldering iron was almost as big as I was.
Rich,
You're not the only one - I too use 14 ga solid -- like others, it's what I had around after I installed can lights in my basement. I unsheathed and pulled it through the holes I drilled into my l-girder joists. I used 20-25ft runs under the table and have had absolutely no problem with flexibilty. I use suitcase connectors to attach my 22 ga feeders to the track. Now I use stranded wire to extend my bus under the swing gate because it needs tolerate bending, whereas the rest of my bus doesn't move much.
I use PSX circuit breakers to isolate the power districts throughout the layout.
They just wanted you to suffer like they did. Sort of like sending you on a snipe hunt, or chasing after some prop wash.
LOL.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Because you haven't tried stranded to see how much easier it is to snake around the benchwork? --Randy
Because you haven't tried stranded to see how much easier it is to snake around the benchwork?
Seriously, though, when I started out in HO scale, no one mentioned this to me. My LHS guys just told me to use 14 gauge solid copper wire, so I did.
Rich
Alton Junction
Well, now, this comes as news to me. I use 14 gauge solid as my bus wire, no problems whatsoever.
If stranded bus wire is the norm, I never knew that. Am I the only guy using solid copper bus wire?
I used #16 gauge stranded wire for my trunk lines. But I ran two wires in parallel for both legs. Then twisted all four wires together on the runs from shorting block to shorting block. The runs from shorting block to shorting block are 10' to 12' apart or less. ( shorting block-at bottom of page )
Stranded wire and solid wire of the same gauge have the same current capacity, but stranded is much easier to work with.
I used 10 and 12AWG, because I happen to have a lot of it laying around, and it won't do any harm either. It is stranded because of its original application, and stranded is just easier to work with in this sort of application.
Solid wire has its place, but under your layout isn't one of them.
3M does supply a Scotchlok that can connect this heavy gauge wire to a lighter gauge tap. (Half the secret of the Scotchlok is getting the right sizes for the wires you have.)
I use 14AWG stranded for my buss runs because it's widely available in a variety of colors and easier to work with under the layout than solid. Maximum buss length is about 30ft. Feeders are 22AWG solid.
Layout power is supplied by a Digitrax DCS100 (Super Chief) and delivered through a PM42. Three of the PM42 sections feed the layout directly, and the fourth feeds two AR1's for reverse loops.
Mostly sound locos (HO-scale) on the layout along with a few non-sound. Works perfectly. No problems through the reverse loops or restarting the layout after a short.
I should note that nothing other than the locos use track power. Stationary decoders for the turnouts have their own 12VDC regulated power supply using 16AWG zip cord.
I used 16awg stranded, runs up to 20' on my 5x9 layout. Used 22awg solid feeders, with 3M suitcase connectors (debateable issue). I figured the connectors might bite across the stranded bus better (but used solid feeders?).
My NCE 5A booster splits to a mainline and 2 reverse loops. Used OG-CB and OG-ARs, respectively, from Tonys Trains.
No issues at all.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
I use 14 ga stranded wire for the buss because it is more flexable and easier to use. My runs are about 25 feet long and I use electronic circuit breakers. My track feeds are 20 or 22 ga solid wire.
Hi All,
Do you prefer solid or stranded wire, and why. Please tell me how long your bus runs are, and if you employ electronic circuit breakers (Brand/Model?). thx!