What gauge wire does Lionel use in there Fastrack O72 Switches (factory). I am guessing 22 gauge.
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That's probably fine for such a short run inside a switch...and even going to the controller and for aux power. The terminal wire is 18 gauge.
Robert: As Mr. Spock once said on Star Trek, "My guess would be valueless". But since the internals of a FasTrack switch use 5 vdc, 22 gauge should be adequate.
Actually, #22 is vast overkill! The Fastrack switch only draws a couple hundred milliamps maximum, the switch motor is a tiny PM motor. #26 or #28 would be more than sufficient for anything inside the switch! The only exception would be if a wire was carrying track power to another part of the switch, but I don't think there is such a connection in the Fastrack switch.
#22 is the size that Lionel uses to wire pickup rollers in many engines!
22 or 24 would be just right. Whether or not the switch uses such a low voltage and small current, these gauges will eliminate voltage drop on long runs.
I haven't seen 28 gauge wire advertised for any model train use. It's generally used in internal wiring of computers and other similar applications. It is a b*tch to handle, terminate, bend, solder, etc, without its breaking.
Thanks Arthur
Thanks all, 22 it is.