What gauge wire should I use for controlling Atlas switch machines, relays, signal lights, structure lighting, control panel LEDs etc? Am wondering if telephone cable is too wimpy?
I think that CAT5 telephone/data wire would be fine for the item you list.
Other opinions?
For everything you list except Atlas switch machines and relays; telephone wire or Cat 5 etc will be fine. For Atlas switch machines, you need something much heavier, unless your runs are extremely short. Think 16 guage or larger.
If the wire guage is too small, the Atlas switch machine or relay will not get enough current to activate, and will likely burnout from having current applied too long. These devices require a very large very short duration current spike. Any sort of long duration current will burn out thier coils.
If you changed to Tortise machines, telephone, Cat 5, etc is great.
I certainly bow to Nigel’s experience and knowledge (No kidding!) but the wire that comes with Atlas switch machines looks very small.
What AWG is Cat 5?
Thanks,
I use phone wire (AWG 26, I think) from Home Depot. 4-conductor is about 8 bucks for a hundred feet. I do use it for Atlas switch machines, BUT I have short runs (only a 5x12 foot layout) AND I use a capacitive discharge circuit for my twin-coils switch machines.
PECO switch machines are even fussier than Atlas, in my experience. My PECO’s were the thing that drove me to the CD circuit in the first place.
I also use cat 5 cable, [#ditto], luck for me I get it free [:)], I built my own turnout supply with a capacitive discharge, It handles runs out to 35 feet just fine.[C):-)]
speaker wire 11
Thanks for all the input.
The Cat 5 I was looking at was 24AWG I think. I had the same thought, that Atlas’ wire is very small, so thought it might work. Telephone/Cat 5 is much more readily available and less expensive… but maybe it’s no good for the switch machines???
The Atlas remote swich machines come prewired with very small wire, much smaller than the 22 gauge I use to connect them with the the switch boxes. They certainly don’t need anything larger than that. I use undermount Altas in the visible areas of the layout. I used 18 gauge there but only because I found a source of very cheap 3 wire cable. For those that were near the control panel, I used 22 gauge wire with no problems. In several instances I have paired two switch machines to the same switch box with no problems. Speaker wire works well if you wire the neutral terminal with a common wire. Save the heavy wire for your bus line.
i use 22 gauge phone wire…it worked great for atlas equipment…i use tortoise machines now and still use the 22 gauge wire…no problems…what you do want to install though is a capacitor discharge unit so you have plenty of stored power for the atlas coil type switch machines…chuck
TWIN COIL SW. MACHINES SUCH AS atlas require a power surge close to 3 amp’s, but since it’s such short duration it doesn’t melt the wire’s - providing you use Momentary switch cotact’s. ATLAS’ wire is fine for short legth’s such as 2 - 3 feet.
If you’re doIng a centralized CONTROL PANEL wher the turnout’s are further away I use 18 gauge solid - hooking arond those Atlas screw terminal’s then is is a breeze.
Chuck/ Bruce,
You both mention “capicitor discharge units.” Where do I get that?
Jxtrrx, Train Tronics makes a C-D (capacitor discharge) unit, and probably others too. You could get it from Walthers or your LHS may have some C-D units in stock. You could also build your own. They’re simple to build, but they do operate from 115 volt house power, so unless you’re comfortble working with electricity, you’d be better off buying an assembled unit. You could check out [code[www.awrr.com[/code] or http://home.cogeco.ca/rpaisley4/basics/basicindex.html for plans to build your own.