Bus and feeder question

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

It’s a little hard to get things here where I live but I have found a shop that sells stranded wire in the following areas. 1,5 mm^2, 2,5 mm^2 and 4,0 mm^2. This is around 15-16 AWG, close to 13 AWG and close to 11 AWG.

I’m planning to use the 1,5 mm^2 wire for track feeders and the 2,5 mm^2 wire for the bus. I just tested the 4.0 mm^2 wire for the bus but my 3M 905 Self-Stripping Electrical Tap Connector will not close so I think I must use the 2,5 mm^2 wire for the bus. Or maybe there is a solution so I can use the 4 mm^2?

So will 1,5 mm^2 wire be ok for feeders and 2,5 mm^2 wire ok for the bus?

2

I don’t know about the tap connectors. The way I’m going mine is for the bus, I am using 12 gauge solid bare copper ground wire. For the feeders I’m going to use 20 gauge stranded copper insulated wire. I’m using the bare wire on the bus because it will make soldering the feeders a snap, since I won’t have to strip insulation off every few feet. I’m just goint to solder a tee joint at each feeder, and be done with it.

3

Electro, those wires are fine, but thicker than needed. …particularly the 1.5 mm for the feeders. (1 mm would be lots.)

Go ahead and use them if that is what you have to work with.