Power feeder cable diameter

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Jabez		#1 Posted : 14 November 2017 00:37:42(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/08/2016(UTC) Posts: 636 Location: Brussels		Brawa offers a 0.25mm2 diameter flat cable (3217-3219) rated for up to 5A which is claimed to be suitable 'for digital and higher power applications'. Would this be suitable for power feeder cable in a CS2/CS3 powered layout? Many posters here recommend 0.75mm2 diameter for power feeder cables. thanks Jabez
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fkowal		#2 Posted : 14 November 2017 03:20:22(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 01/02/2012(UTC) Posts: 69 Location: Toronto		You can google copper wire permissible amperage to get an idea of what is acceptable. I use 14 gauge on my main buss lines to not only carry the current on a steady state basis but to minimize the voltage loss on long runs. I have read in German forums that voltage loss is a consideration in digital layouts. Going from memory, 14 gauge is about 2 mm2 . I also use the 5A booster. I tap off of the main buss with Brawa’s .25 mm2 wire.

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H0		#3 Posted : 14 November 2017 07:56:30(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 15,265 Location: DE-NW		Hi! Originally Posted by: Jabez Would this be suitable for power feeder cable in a CS2/CS3 powered layout? Are you asking about 3 A or about 5 A? The total resistance between controller and short circuit is what matters. Think of the worst case short circuit scenario. If the voltage loss is too big the short circuit detection will not trigger - and that's when things become dangerous. A diameter that is sufficient for 1 m of wire may be insufficient for 10 m and far too small for 100 m. When used properly the Brawa cable will probably be sufficient for many cases.
		Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS

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Bigdaddynz		#4 Posted : 14 November 2017 09:38:26(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,663 Location: New Zealand		Originally Posted by: Jabez Many posters here recommend 0.75mm2 diameter for power feeder cables. That's the recommended wire size if you are feeding the layout using 5 amps of power. If you limit to 3 amps, the Brawa wire should be fine.
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Jabez		#5 Posted : 15 November 2017 00:06:03(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/08/2016(UTC) Posts: 636 Location: Brussels		Originally Posted by: Bigdaddynz Originally Posted by: Jabez Many posters here recommend 0.75mm2 diameter for power feeder cables. That's the recommended wire size if you are feeding the layout using 5 amps of power. If you limit to 3 amps, the Brawa wire should be fine. Would 0.75mm2 cable for the bus ring and the Brawa 0.25mm2 wire for the many feeder connections from the bus to the track be a suitable arrangement even for 5A?
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Bigdaddynz		#6 Posted : 15 November 2017 09:32:43(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,663 Location: New Zealand		I've used the 0.75mm2 cable for all of my feeder wires. As Tom has pointed out it is important that the controller can differentiate between a short and high current draw. The larger cable helps with that, otherwise with smaller cable shorts may not be detected resulting in continous current draw which could cook components, or cause wheels to be welded to track, or at worse cause a fire.
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rbw993		#7 Posted : 15 November 2017 15:35:40(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 19/08/2008(UTC) Posts: 956		As usual bigger is better. Boosters can also be a help in this regard. Long runs of power cables can be replaced by boosters distributed around the layout.

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