I am in need of replacing the ribbed (3-wire) switch wiring for all my Lionel switches. Is this wiring sold by the foot? Where can I purchase just the wires; the switches themselves are in good codition. Thanks.
Roy
Yes, the wiring is sold by the foot or roll. It is $0.60 cents per foot and about $30 for 100 feet of 3 conductor wire from www.towncountryhobbies.com I hope this helps. Just look down the page, should say wire. They have bulbs as well, if you need some for your 022 switches. Thanks.
I have used 4 wire telephone wire, ( Red, green, yellow black ) the 4 wires run in side a jacket. I have 6 O22 switches and the telephone wire works fine. I use the red, green black wires from the controller to the 3 posts on the O22 switch and use the yellow wire to the constant voltage plug. I have bought the wire at Lowe's, you can get 100 feet for about 10 bucks. Its labeled Round Line Cord by RCA.
I've also used "Cat5" cable--it's usually in a blue outer sheath and has 5 (or maybe even 6) Bell-sized wires in it, color coded. It's fairly reasonable.
Eight 24-AWG wires in 4 pairs, white-blue, white-orange, white-green, and white-brown. Twenty-four AWG has a resistance of about 25 milliohms per foot and can carry about 2.5 amperes safely, although it should probably be derated somewhat with that many conductors in a cable.
Bob Nelson
steve24944 I have used 4 wire telephone wire, ( Red, green, yellow black ) the 4 wires run in side a jacket. I have 6 O22 switches and the telephone wire works fine. I use the red, green black wires from the controller to the 3 posts on the O22 switch and use the yellow wire to the constant voltage plug.
I have used 4 wire telephone wire, ( Red, green, yellow black ) the 4 wires run in side a jacket. I have 6 O22 switches and the telephone wire works fine. I use the red, green black wires from the controller to the 3 posts on the O22 switch and use the yellow wire to the constant voltage plug.
My first thought was to run a bus for the common and a bus for the fixed voltage, then tap off of them as required. Then I got to thinking (which put me in uncharted territory, but I pushed on): I need to run wire from each switch to the control panel anyway. Why not add an extra conductor for the fixed voltage? At the end of the day, it would have to be easier (and possibly cheaper) than a bus.
I think you'd still need the common bus (because of the larger current requirement. from the track), but I'm figuring that 3-conductor 20/22 ga. should be more than adequate to take care of the switches: two conductors to control the switch, one for fixed voltage, and connect the controllers to common from a source at the control panel rather than from a wire to the switch.
lionelsoni Eight 24-AWG wires in 4 pairs, white-blue, white-orange, white-green, and white-brown. Twenty-four AWG has a resistance of about 25 milliohms per foot and can carry about 2.5 amperes safely, although it should probably be derated somewhat with that many conductors in a cable.
Bob,
Where do you get the 8 conductor wire?
runtime
Just Google "Cat 5". I don't use it myself. I prefer 10-conductor thermostat cable. It's heavier (20 AWG) and has a simpler color code.
I've got to ask: why do you need 10 conductors? ;)
Lots of turnouts.
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