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What size (guage) wire, and type ( Stranded or Solid core ), do you use for track feeder?
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by Overdurff</i> <br /><br />I think that there is some trade off in gauge and number of feeders and amps required to run a number of locomotives or lighted cars. If 20/22 ga wire only carry 5 amps there are likely several feeders carrying this load to a usually large length of track (another feeder) . With modern low current motors in N and HO I would only shy away from 24 ga. solid telephone wire as feeders. <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />Will, <br />The issue on feeders and bus wire size is not one of ampacity, but of voltage support. <br /> <br />When you look at the entire electrical circuit feeding the locomotive from the power supply, you have multiple parallel paths. You also have a dynamic current vs. time relationship to worry about for the heating of the conductors, which is a I^2T calculation. The end result is that each feeder will likely see less than half of the current being drawn by the locomotive. <br /> <br />Unless you're running G scale under heavy loads with hills, I'm going to step out on a limb and say that 22 gauge feeder wires is fine electrically for anything we're likely to do. <br /> <br />Mechanically that may be a different story. Some time you just want to use heavier wires so they don't break off from normal usage. <br /> <br />I'm using 18 stranded and 20 gauge solid simply because that's what I have on hand. Works fine, will last a long time. <br /> <br />I'm using stranded 14 gauge wire you buy for outdoor low voltage lighting circuits. It's cheap, flexible, and easy to run. <br /> <br />Mark in Utah
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