John H posted:. A short drop of smaller wire does not make a significant impact, in my opinion.
Well, Electrical Theory and Science prove your opinion wrong.
Impedance Mismatch is a problem.
Wire has inherent resistance-and if you are pushing 10 Amps, you are in danger of power transfer failure.
Simply put, the greater heat from higher current can damage the smaller wire.
Plus, the smaller the wire, the less conductivity-which is due to higher resistance.
If you can maintain the same wire size, especially when powering your Trains, you are better off.
Remember, those wires also carry the signal for the control of the train. Damaged wires+loss of control=broken Engine.
Im not clear on the size mismatch of your specific installation, and you may not be in any real immediate danger. So consider this a FYI for those who are about to build a Railroad-use the same gauge of wire for powering your trains. 🚂
