Hello, my name is Alex, I live in Detroit and want to model the rail industry in my area connecting Detroit to the try state area. I have live here all my life and I've collected some loco's and rolling stock to get started.

For the passed 15 or 20 years I have had two layouts, both very small, but enough to get me wanting to build a bigger one. Since youtube started showing model railroads, I have been an youtube railroader for a while and enjoy all of the talent that youtube has.

Now I want that to be me with bad as well as good videos posted on youtube. Anyway just a brief about my interest in the hobby. My scale of choice is N-gage so I can run long trains.

I am just starting to build my first large layout. I have decided to go with the modular system around the wall. I have full access to my basement.

My question is, what type of wire should I use for my main and secondary bus power? And what wire should I use for my rail feeders?

I have seen were someone has used phone cable for feeders from rails to the control panel and electronics. How well does the wires in a cat 5 cable work with DCC to run trains with?

You will get as many answers to the wire question as people you ask. One universal answer that suffices for most all layouts regardless of size or scale is:

• 12 ga copper for bus
• 20-22 ga copper for feeders spaced 3 feet apart
• every piece of rail is soldered to something

Thanks

Cat 5 is ideal for feeder wires.

It takes some time and effort to strip the outer insulation, untangle, and separate the twisted pairs.  But its worth the effort.  Better than tossing it out!