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Wiring HO

Ed asks:

“What size wire do I need? Can I use a larger wire to use as the main feed wire?”

5 Responses to Wiring HO

  • Ananda says:

    Thin wires have higher resistance and they have larger voltage drops. Use a larger diameter wire that is reasonable.

  • Geoff says:

    Assuming this is DCC? It depends on the layout. There’s lots of info on the web. I am using 14 AWG for the main bus, which has a run of about 18 feet. I am using 22 AWG for the feeders/droppers, max length 16 inches. Generally speaking, the thicker the wire the better.

  • Hervey says:

    Think of electricity as water and your wire like a hose. Your bus wire (main feed) should be the largest diameter. Generally 14 gauge is adequate 12 gauge might be required for longer runs. Your feed coming off the bus and feeding a track can be 22 gauge if it is going directly to the track. If it is feeding a block connector then going to the track I would recommend 16 gauge from the bus to the connector then 22 gauge to the track from the block to the track.

  • phil+johnson says:

    Are you using DC or DCC? The longer the runs the heavier the wire gauge. I use 24Ga. for drops and 20Ga.for runs up to 12′. 18Ga. for longer runs. I’m HO with DC/DCC. The longest wire run is 15′.

  • Donald Kadunc says:

    i THICNK IT IS 16G FOR LESS THAN 20 FEET, 14 TO 40 FEET AND 12FOR LONGER RUNS.

    The is the length of the wire not the table. The wire is usually several feet long er than the table.

    Also, a warning. The is for copper wire. Copper clad wire requires larger wire. On Ebay some of the adds are deceptive. If the price is too good to be true it is copper clad.aluminum.

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