Layout Wiring

I think what you are looking at should be more than sufficient for the size of your layout. I used 14ga wire on my buss and 18ga for the feeders, my layout is 8'x38'. l do run Legacy and some locomotives are converted prewar with the original open frame motors. I have had no problems.

Ray

Cool. A friend told me however that. Bus wiring is not good for the DCS signal. 

 That is correct. Bus wiring is not recommended for DCS. The preferred wiring method is "Star wiring", essentially each block of tack gets its own separate pair of wires from a terminal block Like Mth's 50-1014.

I believe there is also a recommended limit to track sections within each block.

Its best to wire your layout for DCS if using DCS, and simply add the Legacy command wire to the common. Legacy does not have a "preferred wiring style".

There have been dozens of threads regarding DCS wiring, I'd do a search. This should answer  most if not ,all of your questions.

OK, I don't run DCS so I can't comment on that but you may want to run more than one power lead to the track say at the most distant point from where your power feed is now. I would question some of the folks on the forum who run DCS to confirm the information that you have been told. The important thing is to get everything secure to have trouble free running of the layout and most importantly, HAVE FUN! I am glad I posted to this, as it has sparked some more info for you.

Ray

@RickO posted:

 That is correct. Bus wiring is not recommended for DCS. The preferred wiring method is "Star wiring", essentially each block of tack gets its own separate pair of wires from a terminal block Like Mth's 50-1014.

I believe there is also a recommended limit to track sections within each block.

Its best to wire your layout for DCS if using DCS, and simply add the Legacy command wire to the common. Legacy does not have a "preferred wiring style".

There have been dozens of threads regarding DCS wiring, I'd do a search. This should answer  most if not ,all of your questions.

 

Ah alright. I have Barry's book. I'll definitely check out that section when I rewire. Thanks. 

I've DCS (and TMC) for years with a modular hirail group (Lehigh Valley HiRailers). By default you have to use buss wiring with this setup. It works. A few tricks we learned: Each track per module gets only one feed. (Modules are typically 4ft long). Insulate the center rails at each end of the module. Break the wiring harness underneath on the side of the layout opposite from the transformers. (We run big loops.) Use quality connectors between the modules. We had no issues using suitcase connectors.  All these items are designed to get a clean signal to the engines. The layout I am currently building, which is sectional, employs the same strategies.

Chris

LVHR