Wiring build and track

Often, a little extra copper is a good thing, but 10 gauge is much too heavy for any toy train application.  The wire through your wall from the service entrance to your train set isn't even that heavy.

Your buildings hardly draw any power at all.

Most folks would recommend 14-16 gauge for the transformer to distribution (if star wiring) or for the bus (if bus wiring) and 16-18 gauge for the feeders to the track. I used Amazon basics 16 gauge speaker wire for my entire layout and haven't had any issues.

For buildings, you can go smaller - I used 18 gauge wire for the bus and feeders connecting my 6 Menards buildings to an adjustable voltage 20A DC power supply.

@Long Hair posted:

Your buildings hardly draw any power at all.

True to a point but ultimately depends on the building. The Schneider Freight building with the moving forklift from Menards draws 750mA according to their website. If their numbers are accurate, the Menards buildings I currently have wired up (Hotel, Schneider Freight, Melrose Park Station, Strip Mall, Cripple Creek Crossing, National Power & Light) are pulling about 4A all together.

Also, make sure the wire you purchase is all copper and not CCA (copper clad aluminum).

I also prefer stranded wire to solid for most applications.

@Long Hair posted:

Often, a little extra copper is a good thing, but 10 gauge is much too heavy for any toy train application.  The wire through your wall from the service entrance to your train set isn't even that heavy.

Your buildings hardly draw any power at all.

@Mike0289 posted:

Most folks would recommend 14-16 gauge for the transformer to distribution (if star wiring) or for the bus (if bus wiring) and 16-18 gauge for the feeders to the track. I used Amazon basics 16 gauge speaker wire for my entire layout and haven't had any issues.

For buildings, you can go smaller - I used 18 gaug

@Mike0289 posted:

Most folks would recommend 14-16 gauge for the transformer to distribution (if star wiring) or for the bus (if bus wiring) and 16-18 gauge for the feeders to the track. I used Amazon basics 16 gauge speaker wire for my entire layout and haven't had any issues.

For buildings, you can go smaller - I used 18 gauge wire for the bus and feeders connecting my 6 Menards buildings to an adjustable voltage 20A DC power supply.

did you use the original wall wart that comes with the menards buildings to take advantage of its plug connector then cut the wires and run them to you dc power supply. I have 9 menards buildings and really dislike connecting so many power bricks. Id rather use the 20 a power suplly tranformer from my long dismantled ho layout. Ive never cut any wires leading to the menards buildings and never opened the buildings to see if there is any wiring points where I can simply connect and positive and negative wire from my dc transformer

@bucca posted:

did you use the original wall wart that comes with the menards buildings to take advantage of its plug connector then cut the wires and run them to you dc power supply. I have 9 menards buildings and really dislike connecting so many power bricks. Id rather use the 20 a power suplly tranformer from my long dismantled ho layout. Ive never cut any wires leading to the menards buildings and never opened the buildings to see if there is any wiring points where I can simply connect and positive and negative wire from my dc transformer

I didn't purchase any of the Menards wall warts at all and I also didn't cut wires or modify internals of my Menards buildings. I had some male plugs from this set laying around which fit the pigtails hanging off the Menards buildings perfectly and have handy screw terminals on the other side for connecting power wires from your DC supply. Looks like they're not available any more but anything with the same size (5.5x2.1mm) should work fine.

Here's the DC power supply I mentioned earlier, as well.