 Joined: 16/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 301 Location: Grandvaux - Lausanne - Switzerland
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Hi All
I would like to put a ring main under the track with leaders connecting to the track and other boxes when needed. What type of wire should i use? I am deciding between solid two core or filimant two core. Advice please
Thx
Tim
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 1 user liked this useful post by Timnomads
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 Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC) Posts: 676 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
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It is not really necessary unless you have a huge layout. But the thicker the wire the less drop it will have ad you get further from the power source. 12 or 14 gauge works. See the end of this video:
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1 user liked this useful post by rhfil
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 Joined: 04/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 1,291 Location: Port Moody, BC
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I used standard 3c#14 North American house wire. This provides Black, White and Red conductors where I used the White to run the (Yellow) lighting circuit.
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1 user liked this useful post by PMPeter
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Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC) Posts: 676 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
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House wire is often less expensive than the same gauge separately. But some claim that you get interference if you run a different signal next to a coded signal so you might want to separate the dc power wire from the ac signal wires.
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1 user liked this useful post by rhfil
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Joined: 04/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 1,291 Location: Port Moody, BC
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Originally Posted by: rhfil  House wire is often less expensive than the same gauge separately. But some claim that you get interference if you run a different signal next to a coded signal so you might want to separate the dc power wire from the ac signal wires. I never had a problem with this and had all my control through RocRail and a CS2. However, if that is a concern you can always run 2 times 2c#14AWG house wire. One for the track power and the other for lighting and accessories. However, if you end up joining the brown from both circuits as is normally recommended, then you again could have the same issue.
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Joined: 18/11/2020(UTC) Posts: 89 Location: Georgia, Ball Ground
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Hi there, I bought a supply of wire last month at https://www.wiringdepot....ire-16-AWG-100-Ft-Spool.It works very well. I am using red, brown and yellow for the standard marklin colors on my analog section. I am using green for the catenary. I am going to be using orange and black in place of red and brown for the digital section I will be using white for the house and street lights once I get to that stage. It will be very colorful underneath the tables :) I am really not to worried about the costs of the wire, Model Railroading is an expensive hobby anyway. If it comes down to saving a couple of pennies per foot on the wire then it is probably not the right hobby. Besides, this company has all the colors that I need and is not like Amazon where I need to buy packages with colors that I will never use. But as usual, this is my viewpoint, you do not have to agree with it. Enjoy Tim
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3 users liked this useful post by Willem99
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Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 3,887 Location: Michigan, Troy
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Wiring depot seems to carry the same selection as Home Depot, etc. 20 awg being the thinnest. I would find that romex house cable is too cumbersome to work with for wiring a layout. Unless you strip all of the outer vynil insulation away. Too much work.
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Joined: 18/11/2020(UTC) Posts: 89 Location: Georgia, Ball Ground
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I have looked at Home Depot, Lowes and every other hardware store in this area, including Amazon.
They just did not have the selection of colors and the 16AWG that I wanted.
Besides Wiring Depot ships for free, so that helps.
I agree with your other comments, too much work for not enough value.
Thanks
Tim
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1 user liked this useful post by Willem99
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