QUESTION: What is best type wire for Post War track power?

A stranded type wire (#14 or #16) is easier to work with and also easier to solder, i.e. installing connectors on the ends of the wire or soldering to the track.

I use 18 Gauge solid thermostat wire for my trains. I use RW's and 1033's, but the concept is still the same.

With the ZW, I use 14 Gauge stranded - those things can essentially arc weld, so smaller gauge wire could heat up pretty quick in an unfortunate event.

Dontano,

   I use  high quality 14 gauge stranded wire on all my layouts now, whether conventional or DCS/Legacy controlled, this works great and more than likely some day you will want to install DCS/Legacy control to you conventional tubular layout.  Just before the FasTrack coupling I down size to high grade 16 Gauge stranded lock on wire, for a vey very short distance, if you do not plan to solder direct to your conventional tubular track, I recommend doing this same thing, with your conventional tubular Locks on's.

Notice the Yellow high grade 14 Gauge stranded wire behind the church, running up to the 3rd level, and the high grade 16 Gauge stranded black and white wire in front of the church, running to the 2nd level, of course you hide the wiring as you complete your layout.  These were specifically left like this to show pictures of the 2 different kinds of stranded wire, I build my layouts with.  IMO the 14 gauge stranded wire is very important when building a good layout.

PCRR/Dave

I used 14 and 16 Ga wire. High quality speaker wire can handle the current and voltage with no problem. All of my connections to the track ( I have tubular too), are soldered. I ran a 14 ga buss and taped it with short lengths of 16 to connect to the track. If you have older ZW's have the circuit breakers upgraded if you have not done it already. Multiple drops on each line reduces the current across any one pair of wires also.

Later I'll post a picture of my layout with the gauge of wire that I use.

I have 14 gauge wire with my ZW because the wattage is rather high and installed 7 amp circuit breakers on each hot terminal(A, B, C, & D) between the transformer and the track. Also have added TVS(transient voltage suppressors) rated at 32 volts Bi-directional across the hot & common sides on each output.

Stranded wire is easier to work with but solid wire may cost less per foot, no benefit other then flexible with stranded wire. Both types of wire will carry the same amount of current in their respective size, just flexibility with stranded. Speaker wire is the same kind of wire just packaged differently, the same size or gauge of speaker wire will handle the same amount of current as the other types of wire will, again you are paying for packaging. 

Lee Fritz

Where would I find 7 amp circuit breakers?

Dontano posted:

Where would I find 7 amp circuit breakers?

Try www.mouserelectronics.com If you need to use the help section on there. I say 7 amp because the MTH Z-1000 is rated at 6 amps and 7 amps(20 volts times 7 amps is 140 watts, 18 volts times 7 amps is 126 watts) is a lot of power even in low voltage circuits. Mouser also has TVS units; use the 32 volt bi-directional one if you order a TVS unit.

Lee Fritz