MTH RealTrax 3 Conductor Switch Wire.. Where do you buy?.

[Buckeye Riveter]

If any of you own MTH Switches you know that they are packaged with a three conductor wire with the colors red, green and black.

This morning I emailed Iowa Jon who, like myself uses MTH RealTrax thinking he would know where to purchase the same three-conductor wire with the same colors. Guess what? He didn't know anymore than me, so I am asking all of you out there, where would Jon and I get this identical wire that MTH uses for the switches? [?][?][?]

(How did I do Jon? [:D])

[jonadel]

You did well, very well. I hope we get a reply!

Jon[:)]

[ChiefEagles]

WHY?????[?] Any same size three condutor wire will work. Solid or stranded? Radio Shack has some. I used old telephone 4 conductor wire to extend my old Lionel switch control wires [the stuff in the gray outter covering with red, yellow, green and black]. Worked great. You are the EXPERT engineer. You know that. [;)]

[jonadel]

Chief--

It's about the color of the wire, just to make life easier. Trust me, it's about making life more organized and easier.

Jon[:)]

[ChiefEagles]

Radio Shack has it all in one roll. It is a flat wire with the insulation molded together.

[boxcar2217]

i use thermostate wire 4 conductor colors red, green, white, yellow. I get it from the home depot

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jonadel

Chief--

It's about the color of the wire, just to make life easier. Trust me, it's about making life more organized and easier.

Jon[:)]

[#ditto] .
Jon and I have learned from our mistakes that the more organized the wiring the easier it is to track down a problem. We want three conductor wire, red, green and black.

[wrmcclellan]

Buckeye, Jon, tough order.

You probably can only get it from MTH if they have it to sell. Flat ribbon cable in the style and color scheme MTH uses is usually custom made.

As the chief said, you could use 4 wire telephone (or 4 conductor alarm system wire - both sold at Home depot) cable and have the red, black, green wires (and ignore the yellow).

This at least duplicates the color scheme you wish.

Regards,
Roy

[lionelsoni]

This may be what Frank is referring to:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062656&cp=2032058.2032227&pg=2&cp=2032058&f=Taxonomy%2FRSK%2F2032227&categoryId=2032227&kw=wire&kwCatId=2032058&parentPage=search

It actually has four conductors; but the red, green, and black are together, so you can strip off the fourth.

[wrmcclellan]

Good find Bob. I did a search on RS for ribbon or flat cable/wire last night and came up blank. Who ever heard of intercom cable? I was going to mail Chief today to see what the PN was.

[ChiefEagles]

Bob found it. No PIN on the plastic roll or I would have posted it. The colors are actually red, green, black and white [looks kind of gray in picture]. It is solid wire and a little stiff but works good. I'm sure it is a lot cheaper than MTH. We have some eletronics stores [mostly independent] that might carry stuff like that. May stop in at one today. Buckeye, if you and Jon get desperate and I find something in only red, green and black, I can buy it and ship it. [;)] Hey Jon, I could bring you a roll weekend after this one. [:)]

[Buckeye Riveter]

Jon,
I think the Radio Shack wire will work after we strip off that fourth wire but it is only 20feet long. The thermostate wire sounds good to me especially when I heard the majic words, HOME DEPOT.

I did discover by accident a plentiful source for 3 Conductor Wire. They use it in boats. Specifically if we can find a Ranger Bass Boat we could just strip the wire out of the boat. Any ideas? Oh, yea how could I forget! I'll check into it on my next trip to Roseyville. [:D]

BTW, I also checked EBAY and they have plenty of wire.

.

[ChiefEagles]

Motion detectors under boat/tractor shed [no joke] and big black lab [102 lbs]. Also a guy lives there with Carry Conceal Permit [and he qualified to get it].

QUOTE: Originally from Buckeye: Jon,
I think the Radio Shack wire will work after we strip off that fourth wire but it is only 20feet long. The thermostate wire sounds good to me especially when I heard the majic words, HOME DEPOT.

OLD WOMEN!!!!!![;)][swg][(-D]

Plants in the greenhouse. Windy and Yankee [= cold]. I even got out my felt western hats [C):-)]and put on a jacket. Got to pick the green tomatoes off and got tons of super hot peppers to pick.
Now for fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. [dinner][tup][:-^]

[Buckeye Riveter]

Chief, When does the conceled weapons guy go to work and does the Lab like T-Bones or Porter House? If I pull the hamster out of the wheel, the motion detectors are toast.

[Buckeye Riveter]

I found thermostate wire, 3 Conductor at Home Depot and better yet, the wires are red, green and white, which is close enough.