Differences

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--- glossary:glossary_a [2018/09/17 10:12] – howard
+++ glossary:glossary_a [2019/09/05 22:27] – [AWG] more detail and ideas of what to expect tgerbic
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
-[[:glossary#dcc_digital_command_control|DCC]] decoders are used to control trackside accessories such as turnouts and signals using the NMRA standard pulsed signal. The signal can be carried by the track and track feeders or can be a separate circuit, which avoids the risk of a derailment or short preventing the control of the turnouts. All DCC manufacturers make accessory decoders and MERG provide kits.\\
+**[[glossary:glossary_d#dcc|DCC]]** decoders are used to control trackside accessories such as turnouts and signals using the NMRA standard pulsed signal. The signal can be carried by the track and track feeders or can be a separate circuit, which avoids the risk of a derailment or short preventing the control of the turnouts. All DCC manufacturers make accessory decoders and MERG provide kits.\\
-http://www.merg.org.uk/merg_resources/dcc.php
+https://www.merg.org.uk/merg_resources/dcc.php
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 The MERG DCC accessory encoder is designed to operate as a DCC command station independently from the track DCC although it uses the NMRA Standard for its information encoding and can operate most other accessory decoders as well as the MERG kits.\\
-http://www.merg.org.uk/merg_resources/dcc.php
+https://www.merg.org.uk/merg_resources/dcc.php
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
-An Amplifier is a device which uses a small amount of power to control a source of a large amount of energy.
+An Amplifier is a device or circuit that converts a small signal, voltage or current, into a larger signal, voltage or current.  Amplifiers are typically built from discrete devices like tubes or transistors, or are manufactured as a IC device to reduce components or complexity.
+You will generally run into three amplifier types on the MERG forum or with MERG kits; a transistor as an amplifier, an Operational Amplifier (op amp) such as an LM324 or an audio amplifier such as an LM386.
@@ Line 88: / Line 90: @@
 ===== AWG =====
+American Wire Gauge is a set of standard sizes for wire diameter. It covers both solid and stranded wire.
-American Wire Gauge- This is not the same as Standard Wire Gauge. There is no direct conversion in that the ratio of radii SWG/AWG varies from 0.8 at 6/0 to 1.64 at 43.\\
+As the gauge number gets larger the wire diameter gets smaller. Larger wire is generally used for carrying higher current levels since larger wire has less resistance and so for higher currents less voltage is dropped over a given distance.
+In North America, extension cords are generally wired with 16AWG or 14AWG. House outlet wiring would generally have 14AWG or 12AWG wiring. In the UK, Australia and many other countries 2.5mm or 4mm wiring would be used in a similar fashion. Bus wires for DC or DCC may use large gauges such as these to supply a fairly constant voltage level (provides a low voltage drop over distance) around a large layout. Feeders to a track would be much smaller wires as current demands would be smaller. Relay coils and small wattage transformers may have gauges from 18AWG down to 28AWG. Wirewrap wire is generally 26AWG. While this paragraph is fairly general, it will give you an idea what to expect for wire sizes on a layout or simple projects. Better detail and recommendations can be found elsewhere in the Forum for a specific task.
+AWG is not the same as Standard Wire Gauge. There is no direct conversion in the ratio of wire diameter between AWG and SWG.
+\\
 [[http://www.hardwarebook.net/table/AWG.html|http://www.hardwarebook.net/table/AWG.html]]\\
 [[http://www.simetric.co.uk/siwire.htm|http://www.simetric.co.uk/siwire.htm]]