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Feeder wire

 

I purchased a spool of 22awg solid wire for feeders. The wire is insulated and upon removal of some insulation, I noticed that despite the wire being shiny under the insulation, the wire is copper. Is copper proper to use for feeders?

 

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Yes. ?I use it on my layout.

Bob





Robert Heroux

ACCU-LITES, Inc.
12172 RT47
Suite 130
Huntley, IL 60142

Phone: 847.224.7914

NMRA Member # 143811


On Apr 27, 2025, at 20:55, 3CURLY3 via <3CURLY3@...> wrote:

I purchased a spool of 22awg solid wire for feeders. The wire is insulated and upon removal of some insulation, I noticed that despite the wire being shiny under the insulation, the wire is copper. Is copper proper to use for feeders?

 

Copper is the only wire suitable for any layout wiring. Only pure silver is a better conductor.

John Bishop

On Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 06:55:32 PM PDT, 3CURLY3 via groups.io <3curly3@...> wrote:


I purchased a spool of 22awg solid wire for feeders. The wire is insulated and upon removal of some insulation, I noticed that despite the wire being shiny under the insulation, the wire is copper. Is copper proper to use for feeders?

 

What are the good brands of pure silver everyone is using? And copper?
?
Thanks.?

On 04/27/2025 10:13 PM CDT JOHN BISHOP <john_bishop@...> wrote:
?
?
?
Copper is the only wire suitable for any layout wiring. Only pure silver is a better conductor.
?
John Bishop
?
On Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 06:55:32 PM PDT, 3CURLY3 via groups.io <3curly3@...> wrote:
?
?
I purchased a spool of 22awg solid wire for feeders. The wire is insulated and upon removal of some insulation, I noticed that despite the wire being shiny under the insulation, the wire is copper. Is copper proper to use for feeders?

 

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3CURLY3,

To start:? Please sign your messages.??


Your questions set me back a bit. It has been many years since I asked similar questions.

Copper is the most common conductive material used in wire. It is considerably LESS expensive than silver. That difference in cost at the wholesale/retail level is why copper wire is more common/popular than silver wire for model railroads. Yes, the relatively low resistance of a given copper wire can be measured (with suitable test equipment) but when used appropriately, the small copper wires commonly used with model railroads will provide years of satisfactory operation.

There are several sources of published information regarding the selection of suitable copper wire sizes (metric and imperial) for the model railroader: on-line (start with the ‘Files’ section of this Group), books and magazines. If you haven’t already, try searching on a phrase like ‘wiring your layout’ to get started.

The selection of feeder wire begins with understanding which Scale of model railroad you what to use on your layout. At an extreme, O-scale will require track feeders that are larger in cross-section than those for N-scale.

Search out information to expand your knowledge and when you are stumped be sure to ASK.

--Dave McBrayer

Auburn, CA

---------------


On 04/28/2025 9:11 AM, 3CURLY3 via groups.io wrote:

What are the good brands of pure silver everyone is using? And copper?
?
Thanks.?
On 04/27/2025 10:13 PM CDT JOHN BISHOP <john_bishop@...> wrote:
?
?
?
Copper is the only wire suitable for any layout wiring. Only pure silver is a better conductor.
?
John Bishop
?
On Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 06:55:32 PM PDT, 3CURLY3 via groups.io <3curly3@...> wrote:
?
?
I purchased a spool of 22awg solid wire for feeders. The wire is insulated and upon removal of some insulation, I noticed that despite the wire being shiny under the insulation, the wire is copper. Is copper proper to use for feeders?


--
Dave McBrayer
Auburn, CA
 

Yes, copper is fine to use.? I only use copper wire. It is the recommended wire for all applications, whether feeders, buss lines, etc.? The choice of preference that comes into consideration is whether to use solid or stranded copper wire.? Generally, it comes down to ease of use and what works best for you...
?
John G.
 

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Copper is the 2nd best conductor, followed by #1 Silver. It is ahead of Gold and Aluminum.

?

G

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of 3CURLY3 via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2025 8:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [w4dccqa] Feeder wire

?

I purchased a spool of 22awg solid wire for feeders. The wire is insulated and upon removal of some insulation, I noticed that despite the wire being shiny under the insulation, the wire is copper. Is copper proper to use for feeders?

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