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?: What is the max gauge wire for digitrax

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 15, 2018 7:22 AM

 ALL of the Digitrax command stations and boosters have terminals like that (the very oldest ones when they first started had spring clip terminals, but they were all quickly changed to the screw type. BTW the part with the screws pulls off the other half of the connector which is soldered to the circuit board.

                                --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Thursday, March 15, 2018 3:09 AM

Metro Red Line

 

 
zstripe

  

Don't worry about wrapping the wire around the terminal.....put a crimp-wire spade connector on the end of the wire, then put it on the terminals. They come in all sizes. Can be bought at most big box stores. Link is used as an example:

http://www.elecdirect.com/crimp-wire-terminals/spades-forks/block-spade-terminal-pvc-blue-16-14-6-100pk

You just trim off about a 1/4'' of insulation from the wire stick in the connector and crimp.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

 

 

 
The DCS51 terminals aren't like that. They have the European style terminals where a wire is inserted in a receptacle and the screw locks the wire inside the receptacle.
 

Thanks........I did not know that......not a Digitrax user or even DCC for that matter. Surprised You are the only one that mentioned it. I'll just leave the post for the link.....maybe someone else may need it........

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Under The Streets of Los Angeles
  • 1,150 posts
Posted by Metro Red Line on Thursday, March 15, 2018 2:34 AM

zstripe

  

Don't worry about wrapping the wire around the terminal.....put a crimp-wire spade connector on the end of the wire, then put it on the terminals. They come in all sizes. Can be bought at most big box stores. Link is used as an example:

http://www.elecdirect.com/crimp-wire-terminals/spades-forks/block-spade-terminal-pvc-blue-16-14-6-100pk

You just trim off about a 1/4'' of insulation from the wire stick in the connector and crimp.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

 

 
The DCS51 terminals aren't like that. They have the European style terminals where a wire is inserted in a receptacle and the screw locks the wire inside the receptacle.
  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: East Central Florida
  • 480 posts
Posted by Onewolf on Thursday, March 8, 2018 6:33 PM

12GA stranded THHN fits ok.  10GA stranded THHN does not fit.  Most of my track power bus wires are 10GA THHN but I run 12GA from the Digitrax boosters to the first daisy chained PSX boards and then go to the 10GA wire output from the PSXs.

Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.

- Photo album of layout construction -

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Thursday, March 8, 2018 6:05 PM

DigitalGriffin

Going to pick up some layout wire on the way home for my son's DCS51 (Digitrax)

 

Does anybody happen to remember the max gauge wire the terminals will take?

Thanks
-D

 

Don't worry about wrapping the wire around the terminal.....put a crimp-wire spade connector on the end of the wire, then put it on the terminals. They come in all sizes. Can be bought at most big box stores. Link is used as an example:

http://www.elecdirect.com/crimp-wire-terminals/spades-forks/block-spade-terminal-pvc-blue-16-14-6-100pk

You just trim off about a 1/4'' of insulation from the wire stick in the connector and crimp.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Thursday, March 8, 2018 4:51 PM

It should take 14 gauge as stated earlier, but you might find that with a relatively short bus you could get away with stranded or solid 16 gauge.  I used 16 gauge speaker wire once and it presented no discernible problems for nearly 3 years...until forced teardown.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 1,835 posts
Posted by bearman on Thursday, March 8, 2018 3:56 PM

14 AWG is a good gage for a bus

Bear "It's all about having fun."

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, March 8, 2018 3:20 PM

Don't know if this helps you, but 14ga. solid fits in the DB150 track terminals.

Mike.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
?: What is the max gauge wire for digitrax
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Thursday, March 8, 2018 2:25 PM

Going to pick up some layout wire on the way home for my son's DCS51 (Digitrax)

 

Does anybody happen to remember the max gauge wire the terminals will take?

Thanks
-D

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

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

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