Wiring

[Anonymous]

Hello Out there in Garden Railway Land!!

Yeah I'm knew at this so please bare with me! Still getting my bearings sort of speak.

Anyway I have questions concerning the wiring for my track. I have just completed laying down my garden railway track and ready to proceed with the electrical hookup. Now I did not begin with the usual starter kit, so I am flying by the seat of my pants here, and don't have the luxory of having the transformer and neccessary wiring that would be included. What I need to know is what guage of wire is normally used, is it low voltage wire such as that which is used for low voltage accent lighting? Or do I need go with a larger or smaller gage wire? How many volts are we talking here anyway? How big a transformer do I need? I have about 70 - 80 feet of track laid so far, with branch lines soon to be installed, what things electrically speaking do I need to consider when adding more track? Please tell me someone out there has some answers, everyone I speak to around here in southern Ontario, Canada seems to talk well above my head[D)]!

Thanks in advance to anyone has some helpful advice to get me steered in the right direction.

MAJ.

[grandpopswalt]

MAJ,

Here's a little something to get you started. You'll need a DC power supply designed to output between 2 and 5 amps That will easily power 2 -3 locos running at the same time. The voltage output of your power supply should be about 18 - 20 volts DC. This is considered low voltage. The wires you use to feed the system should be as large as possible, say 14 or 12 gauge, these are rated 15 and 20 amps respectively.

Good luck.

Walt

[Anonymous]

MAJ,

In a issue of Garden Railways Magazine I noted that 2 guys went to Wal-Mart and bought 3 battery chargers to use as there power supply.
There track was very large! Unless the photos was making me think it was larger.
I also agree with Grandpopswalt.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Walt & Bluebonnet, your replies were most helpful!

MAJ

[Anonymous]

I used Malibu outdoor lighting cable to connect from transformer to track. It is designed for outdoor and buried use. Has worked great for 5 years now.
Richard

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rainbowglass

I used Malibu outdoor lighting cable to connect from transformer to track. It is designed for outdoor and buried use. Has worked great for 5 years now.
Richard

Richard,
You have the lights hooked up on a different system?
Or you just use the wire?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bluebonnet - 71

QUOTE: Originally posted by rainbowglass

I used Malibu outdoor lighting cable to connect from transformer to track. It is designed for outdoor and buried use. Has worked great for 5 years now.
Richard

Richard,
You have the lights hooked up on a different system?
Or you just use the wire?

I

I just use the wire for the trains. Use a malibu trnsformer for building lights.
Richard

[Anonymous]

Outdoor landscape wire works fine . I am using it for my track power and for lighting . If you are using track power like I am then get a good powerpack .I am using a Bridgewerks 15 amp unit with the remote . I am using brass track and I have about a 300 foot mainline run . I use one power hookup to the railroad ( 2 wires) and everything works fine . I do have to go over the rail joiners with the little allen wrench from time to time , however i'm replacing the stock Aristocraft rail joiners with clamps little by little . 68 more and i'm done .

[Anonymous]

You didn't mention what kinds of trains you were planning to run but as an example of power consumption you may experiance I run a U.S.A. trains passenger set . There are 3 locomotives an a-b-a F-3 set and 6 passenger cars . With all the lights , sound , and smoke going at once it's well over 5 amps .Hope this helps .

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by blue aster

Outdoor landscape wire works fine . I am using it for my track power and for lighting . If you are using track power like I am then get a good powerpack .I am using a Bridgewerks 15 amp unit with the remote . I am using brass track and I have about a 300 foot mainline run . I use one power hookup to the railroad ( 2 wires) and everything works fine . I do have to go over the rail joiners with the little allen wrench from time to time , however i'm replacing the stock Aristocraft rail joiners with clamps little by little . 68 more and i'm done .

NOW That's perseverance!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Hi anthonyj64
I am using an LGB transformer it will eventual sit on a high shelf in the kichen
thats the closest indoor power point to the railway and have LGB controler outside.
for wiring Ii have used two core flex the stuff rated for 240V ac domestic lights
grey outer insulation for 45 trains orange for 32mm trains and white for acsessories
lights points ect..
Track wiring is being set up as a ring main that is a cable follows the track buried
in 50 mm PVC pipe with pits spaced where the next track feed or acsessorie feed is needed hopefully around about the same place.
There will eventualy be three seperate transformers one for each train and a seperate one for acsessories not essential but advisable to do it that way.
VERY IMPORTANT keep MAINS power and low volts train power well seperated
Mains preferably stays indoors with a low volt feed to the garden for the railway
regards John