I'm in the midst of designing my wire scheme for my layout. It's 40 feet long by 8 feet wide with two levels. At present I'm only running Legacy, but I do want to build in provisions for DCS and conventional operation for future flexibility.
I'll power the layout with 5 PH-180 transformers (I like the built in, fast acting circuit breaker).
With that background, here's my question - what are the pros and cons of using a common (U) bus wire to connect outer rails and for all other common (U) connections on the layout including track and accessories (assumes all accessories will be AC)?
I'll be connecting the common (U) connections of the PH-180 transformers together (after I make sure they are in phase). I'll then run a common (U) bus wire (10 gauge, stranded copper) to each end of the layout with feeders (14 gauge, stranded tinned copper). The "hot" wire will be run in roughly a "star" pattern, which will be a home run to each transformer (12 gauge, stranded copper) that breaks out into separate track feeders (14 gauge, stranded tinned copper). The center rails (connected to hot wire) will be isolated with an insulator between each feeder connection point (each isolated block with only have one hot feeder and these blocks will be between 8 and 12 feet long). The outer rails will not be isolated between common (u) feeders (is this a problem?).
The hot wires will be run with 4 conductor speaker cable (each individual conductor is 12 gauge stranded copper) for convenience and to make things a little neater - does anyone know if running the hot wires in a cable will be an issues with Legacy or DCS signals?
For accessories that can't handle 18v track voltage, I'll use other transformers (suggestions?) to power those accessories. Is there any issue with utilizing the common (u) bus described earlier with these accessory voltage circuits?
I'm using Wago 221 connectors to make all my connections (using the 6mm variety for 10 gauge wire; using the 4mm variety for all the others). I think the Wago 221 connectors are fantastic (a little pricey, but worth it in my book). I'll also be using the Wago 221-500 mounting carriers (allow the 221 connectors to be mounted and secure easily).
I appreciate any criticism of my wiring scheme!
Thank you!
