size wire needed for DCC decoders

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hi

I am converting some of my old loco to DCC the wire is thin what gauge wire should I use I found some 22-gauge but don’t want to buy it if it won’t work for installing decoders. Cn someboody make a suggestion? Don’t want to spend money on something I can’t use.

Thanks for your help

George

2

George,

I use 30AWG ultra-flexible wire, which can be purchased from Miniatronics. It comes in a variety of colors so that you can color-code your decoder installations - i.e. orange & gray for motor; red & black for rail; white & yellow and blue for headlights and common; purple & green for auxillary lighting effects; brown for speakers. I picked up the multi-color bag of wire rather than purchasing individual spools. It contains enough wire to do several decoder installations.

Along with that I would also highly suggest that you pick up Kapton (polyimide) tape. It’s very thin but holds down wires extremely well and doesn’t leave a residue like electical tape will after a while. It’s also great for insulating the backside of the decoder so that it doesn’t inadvertently short to something, like the frame. I find that the 1/2" width is a good size. It’s not inexpensive but a small roll will last you a lifetime.

Hope that helps…

Tom

3

Hi, George

I bought this 30 ga. assortment from Amazon and find it very useful for decoder installation:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KQ2JNLI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also got a second box to give me more colors useful for decoder work:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KQ2JPY8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

You may find that small heat-shrink tubing and kapton tape will be helpful, too.

I hope that helps, Ed

4

I use either #28 stranded rated at 226ma or #30 stranded #30 rated at 142ma. The smaller the better for inside locomotives. Short runs 6” to 10” can handle more current than the rating. Most decoders come with #28.

I have Athearn Gold motors in a lot of my locomotives that draw one amp locked rotor and never had a problem with #30 wire.

I buy from this US eBay seller:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/240-73-m-28-AWG-Stranded-Tinned-Copper-Decoder-Model-R-R-Layout-Hook-Up-Wire/361575993019?hash=item542f9bcebb:g:0IsAAOSwSypY9-Tf

240’ total, 24’ of #28 wire in ten colors on nice plastic spools.

5

Mel and Ed, looks like some good stuff. I’m still using up the wire from unused harnesses, but ready for a fresh supply.

Some of my first Athearn wiring to eliminate the contact strip across the top, I tried the 22ga. Way too stiff. Trucks won’t turn freely.

Mike.

6

Mike

I’ve been using #28 for my Athearns for many years without any problems. I put a ½” loop between the motor and the trucks for added flexibility. Probably doesn’t need it but it looks better when I swivel the trucks.

Mel

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

7

Digitrax sells a pack of 10’ long, 9 different colors of 30 ga wire. Available at modeltrainsuff and the usual decoder/DCC shops

8

Hello all,

I second the Digitrax assortment pack.

Hope this helps.

9

I have used #30, 28 strand. A little more flexible than standard #30, 7 strand in HO locos.

Rich

10

This is what I use too. The advantage, for me, is that it has each standard DCC decoder colors. I often rewire the entire loco with the standard colors. Red and black to the power pickups, Orange and Grey to the motor, Blue, yellow and white to the lights. This makes it much easier for me to understand what goes where in the loco if I have to troubleshoot it later.