Lionel FasTrack Electric O Gauge, Operating Accessories, Power Wire

What size layout?

I don't use that connector as I have a larger layout and use 16 gauge wire and solder right to the bottom tabs of a few sections of FasTrack around the layout from a terminal block fed by 14 gauge from a transformer.  This is probably a little over kill for my size layout but I had the wire on hand.

You can also buy the spade connectors and use wire you have on hand as long as the gauge meets your current needs.  Here is a thread with some info.

Thanks Marty

our layout is approximately 15' x 16'

My 9'x16' use 18 almost exclusively.....

On my layouts, regardless of size, I ALWAYS use 12 gauge wire from the transformer to the track. Using this gauge causes your circuit breaker to trip almost instantaneously in the event of a derailment or other short circuit condition.  This fast trip can save your electronic boards!  In smaller wires, a voltage drop can occur, frying your delicate electronics in the event of a derailment.  The wire (I refer to) is VERY high quality, fine stranded, and comes with two colors of wire: copper and tin. With care, in the tinning stage, this wire actually fits in an old Lionel Lockon.  It is a nice sizing for crimping onto Fasttrack fastons.

You can get this wire from the big box stores in the electrical department.  Try Lowe's, Home Depot, or Menard's.  Ask for Speaker wire.  It has two differently colored conductors, one silver (tinned)  and copper for the other.  Insulation is pretty much clear.

thank you !

Whatever size wire you decide on (I use 14 from transformer to main terminal block and from main terminal block to track block and then 16 for the short distance from the track block to the underside of the Fastrack), make sure it is all copper wire and not marked "CCA" or "Copper Clad Aluminum".   

thank you !

This is all informative. I've got a newbie question... Planning the attached 5'x10' layout with my son.  We just built a table and having never built such a setup I'm wondering at what spacing around such a layout I need to provide a wired connection to the transformer to avoid dead spots in the track current...  Every few feet?  Any and all details appreciated.  Also, any specifics on what hardware and setup folks find most effective.  I read above about copper wire and and a terminal blocks(?) and track block(?).

Just trying to plan ahead.  Thank you!  Stuart

Stuart, I can't help you with this question but my wife is working on creating a layout for ours, what program did you use. Its very nice, thanks

@LewesTrains posted:

...what spacing...  ...to avoid dead spots in the track current...  Every few feet?

If you go with every 10-12 joints, no track will be more than 5-6 track joints away from a power connection. Excluding the sidings which you will want powered/switched independently, you will quickly see you only need 2 each for the inner & outer loops.

@ADCX Rob posted:

If you go with every 10-12 joints, no track will be more than 5-6 track joints away from a power connection. Excluding the sidings which you will want powered/switched independently, you will quickly see you only need 2 each for the inner & outer loops.

Thanks Rob!

@Lou T posted:

Stuart, I can't help you with this question but my wife is working on creating a layout for ours, what program did you use. Its very nice, thanks

Hi Lou,  I don't have a track design program.  I found it in a 2013 thread on this forum posted by SeattleSUP.  I don't know yet how to directly contact a forum participant to ask for more info, but I'm hoping to get a parts list from him b/c some of the bits in the diagram are not entirely clear to me.  It looks like a nice layout and I'm working on the list of things we need to create it.  Happy to share any further info I find.

Best, Stuart

The screenshot looks SCARM to me.  I use it and it is a great track planning program.  You can try it for free, limited number of track pieces, but the cost of the full version is very reasonable.  Lots of different manufacturers tracks included.

My wife thanks you !

@Lou T posted:

My wife thanks you !

I’m always sucking up info from here.  Glad I could finally contribute.

Bill