before I head to the hardware store this moring, what kind of wire do I need… I know the gaugem but what is the wire called… hoping the local hardware store has it…
thanks
Mike
I dont think there’s any pacific name too it, Just make sure its solid and the right gauge. Normaly i would think it would just be called house wiring. What i have is yellow 10 or 12 i forget gauge wire witch is for house wiring. I got lucky and a friend gave me just enough. Or you could just ask the guy and tell him what gauge you need and the purpose and he might lead you in the right direction.
does it come in different colors?
That im not sure of msot likely so people wouldnt miss wire something there will be a different color for each wire. but how many variable colors you can choose from not sure, but mine is Red and Yellow.
Good moring!..As i’m just about to start adding to my existing DCC layout with new district wireing i’ll tell you what i’ve installed with GREAT success…This process is also explained in MR mag Nov issue.
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I use 14 gauge wire…comes in diff size rolls and no longer cheep…14 gauge wire being used cause we have 4 power districts and modeling in HO.
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I have blue spool and red spool to identify which side of track (tough when under table to know which wire is which) to keep polarity simple. While there you might want to purchase pack of screw eye to snake wire throught rather then staple.
3.when it come time to splice off your feed wire istead of cutting/soldering etc try to find a product made by “Scotchlok”. They are called Scotchlok 905 self taping connectors…buy the size to marry up with the size wire you use. These are the best thing for sending out you feeds to track…just open scltchlok put in feed wire and clip onto your undertable feeders…and your done…these are great but you will have to go to an electrical supply house…not big Hm Depot etc type store… good luck Tom
Stranded speaker wire from Wal-mart or any other source is better than solid wire because it’s more flexible and easier to work with. Solid strand Romex is stiff and difficult to handle, especially when working underneath your benchwork
Don’t know about your local hardware store, but most good ones and Lowe’s and Home Depot, etc., carry several colors in several sizes, both solid and stranded.
I use 14 gauge stranded for my bus wiring, 20 gauge solid (which you can’t get from most local places) for feeders. Depending on length of run, you might be able to use smaller wire, or perhaps need larger. Try this site for all sorts of related info: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/
As mentioned above, the stranded is much more flexible and easier to solder to. Some say it has more current capacity, but I wouldn’t swear to that. I strip about 1/2 inch of insulation off the bus wire, then wrap and solder the feeders to it, then cover the exposed wire with “liquid electrical tape”, which is some sort of plastic. Some folks use “suitcase connectors” with good results, too.