@KKNAPPER posted:Thanks for all suggestions guys.
I am thinking the 16 Guage is universal enough to do my accessory loop around my layout. It an 9x10 with an 8ft center section.
I'm just using the Lionel 72 watt power supplies for the track. I thought I would solder connections underneath to reduce any power loss. The 8 amps from these two supplies seem to do the job. Plus I have weird angles and some 1/4, 3/8 pieces.
I think most people solder FT sections together because of connectivity issues, not power loss, per se. Soldering basically assures that the connections are tight but, if assembled correctly, that should not be an issue.
You can "jumper" the underneath connections from the terminal sections to other, different areas of the layout for more power drops rather than solder every piece of FT. You could also cut the plugs off the wall warts and connect them to distribution blocks like the one shown and then run power drops to different sections of the layout to insure good power all around - if you do that, polarity is important, especially because you are using DC. You could also purchase a small AC transformer like the MTH Z 1000 connected to the same distribution block and out to the track with as many power drops as you need (up to 12) - the Z 1000 also has at least one 14 volt accessory port from which you can power your accessories and maybe eliminate the LW.
I am wiring the accessories separate from the track on a Lionel LW 125.
That's where I will be using most of the wire. Maybe I don't need 16 ga ? For that part.
And soldering underneath the fast track is 16 too rigid ?
Someone mentioned stranded is harder to solder with ? - Not IMHO.
