PED If your layout was running OK in the begining with your "thin gage wire", that would suggest dirty track at this point, not inadequate wire. You don't say what wire you currently have for your buss but if it is less than the 16 gage, your buss is very undersized. I would suggest at least 14 ga for buss, 12 is better. A weak (undersized buss) combined with dirty track means that your loco's are not getting enough power.
If your layout was running OK in the begining with your "thin gage wire", that would suggest dirty track at this point, not inadequate wire. You don't say what wire you currently have for your buss but if it is less than the 16 gage, your buss is very undersized. I would suggest at least 14 ga for buss, 12 is better.
A weak (undersized buss) combined with dirty track means that your loco's are not getting enough power.
You should also have multiple feeder wires to the track, as the rail itself is not a very good conductor. You should also solder your track together, with some spacing left for heat/cold expansion. Some advocate feeders every 12 inches - an overkill in my opinion. I have put them at every 24 inches on my layout.
Simon
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
Currently I have a thin gauge wire feeding the track. (About 168 feet of track.) And now the locos are starting to sputter in places they shouldn't.
I have 16 gauge black & white wire available. This would go from the NCE SB5 5 amp booster directly to all 3 main lines. Is this appropriate or should I go with thicker guage?
We usually run 3-5 loco's per main. Here is a video of my layout. As you can see the wire I'm using for the switches is the same wire I'm using to feed the track. Thanks for your input.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNLKBHhKpRA