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 Posted - February 13 2016 : 4:01:29 PM
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I am getting ready to start building a HO layout and was wondering what the best gauge of wire to use? 
Yardmaster 54
Edited by - yardmaster54 on February 14 2016 3:28:48 PM
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Posted - February 13 2016 : 6:55:19 PM
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Well, you don't say what GAUGE of layout you're building. I assume HO here...that being the case, 18 gauge wire is good for most power requirements for long runs for HO power, you can take 20 or 22 off that to the track, but the larger the wire, the more Umph! it has to carry more amps, as the electrical field tends to follow the circumference, not the inside wire , so the larger the diameter, the more juice it will carry. You can of course go larger, like 16 or 14 gauge, but that's a bit over-kill, 18 should suffice and not cost you too many legs.
Jerry, train repair tech
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - February 14 2016 : 3:35:04 PM
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[quote]Well, you don't say what GAUGE of layout you're building. I assume HO here...that being the case, 18 gauge wire is good for most power requirements for long runs for HO power, you can take 20 or 22 off that to the track, but the larger the wire, the more Umph! it has to carry more amps, as the electrical field tends to follow the circumference, not the inside wire , so the larger the diameter, the more juice it will carry. You can of course go larger, like 16 or 14 gauge, but that's a bit over-kill, 18 should suffice and not cost you too many legs.
Jerry, train repair tech
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â February 13 2016Â :Â 6:55:19 PM
[/quote ] Hi Jerry
My layout will be HO. It will be DCC, will that make a difference in what gauge of wire I should use?
Yardmaster 54
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Posted - February 14 2016 : 8:14:23 PM
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quote:
Hi Jerry
My layout will be HO. It will be DCC, will that make a difference in what gauge of wire I should use?
Originally posted by yardmaster54Â -Â February 14 2016Â :Â 3:35:04 PM
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No, not really. DCC operates at a full 14 VDC, rather than variable 0-14 (more or less), so as long as the wire itself can handle that voltage and current, it's fine for either variety.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - February 15 2016 : 01:48:52 AM
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[/i] Thanks Jerry I appreciate your advice.
Yardmaster 54
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Posted - February 15 2016 : 8:57:46 PM
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UNLESS your Walt, wiring up 3000 or so street lamps. In which case I am sure the electric company will not miss a few hundred yards of high tension wire. Make sure
you wear rubber kitchen gloves (not wet) when performing
this slight task.
http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/uploaded/Walt/20160208203106_image.jpg
Edited by - Chops124 on February 15 2016 9:11:04 PM
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