13 replies to this topic

[Mike Permanian]

Does it really matter what size wire goes from the guide to the motor. I know that that the largest size speaker wire is recommended for stereo speaker set-up.

Thanks

Mike

[Eddie Fleming]

For my racing I find that carrying the current is not the problem. My number one concern is how well the guide returns to center. 

 

I do not race high power motors like 27 or open. 

[MSwiss]

In the last 5 years or so, there really has been a movement to go from 18AWG to the thinner, lighter 20AWG.

 

I think most racers don't see any loss in speed.

 

As Eddie said in his great post, guide centering is most important, as you want to make it as easy as possible for the turn marshal to get your car back in the slot.

 

I'm still amazed at fairly accomplished racers entering races with guides that don't center or with body pins not kinked so they stay in.

 

I still contend that when my local racers buy a tube of pins, they throw a few new ones out on the track just to aggravate me. Lol

[Kim Lander]

The only time you would need heavy gauge wire is when , as Eddie and Mike touched on, is when you are racing high amperage draw motors , other than that the 20 g is quite sufficient.

[Don Weaver]

FWIW:  the difference in resistance between 6" of #20 and #18 is 0.0019 ohms.  The "loss" in speed over the entire race is probably offset by the first bumbled marshalling effort caused by the guide not centering.

 

Don

[Eddie Fleming]

I tried 22 AWG on a retro stock car. It was plenty fast. I could not tell it from 18 AWG, but it was to hard to get the guide to return to center so I gave up on the idea. 

[Bill from NH]

You could run 22 AWG from the motor & splice it to a coarse gage (18 or 20 AWG) that connects to the guide. Some flexi racers have been using mixed gage lead wires with FK motors for several years.

[Dominator]

The 20 gauge TQ leadwire is great.  Almost 2 grams lighter than the 18 gauge and still centers the guide nicely. 

[John Luongo]

some time ago i experimented with less resilient lead wire to keep the guide straight and alter the chassis "swing" movement in turns. i found it esp usefull when racing on an oval track. i used a lighter gauge wire for the inside lead and a heavier gauge wire at the outside position. best regards

[Mike Permanian]

Thank you for the info.

Mike

[NSwanberg]

The thinner leads often break at the clips during a race.

[Bill from NH]

Careless soldering &/or poor leadwire running.

[MSwiss]

With the loop system and the wires feeding straight into the clip, it is fine.

 

Nelson might be referring to impact where 20AWG will certainly get cut through a little easier.

[John Luongo]

years ago when racing on ovals with 4.5 nascar bodies the guides, lead wires and flimsy grp10 chassis took a merciless pounding from crashes. when we changed to .040 bodies, that type of damage was significantly reduced. "rubbins racin"