atlas controllers

[coorsdrinkr]

I picked up a few used controllers for a buck each at a show, and I don't know what size wire to use. Can anybody help me out. Thankx

Ron

[MisterBeasley]

What are you controlling with them? Is this a generic "controller," meaning any Atlas thing with switches and buttons on it, or a Controller, part number 0220? The Controller is meant for track wiring and cab control, so you probably want something like 18-gauge or heavier for HO.

[coorsdrinkr]

I should have mentioned that I have to get wires for the switch controllers. I had a broken keyboard and took the cable off and tried the individual wires. It worked but thosr wires are real,real small. Should I use aliitle bit heavier gauge wire. Thankx

Ron

[MisterBeasley]

For my turnouts ("switch" is such an ambiguous word) I went to Home Depot and got hundred-foot rolls of 4-conductor phone wire. I think it's labelled 24/2, with the 24 being the wire gauge, and the 2 meaning 2 pairs of wires. I only need 3-conductor, of course, but this is actually cheaper than the 3-conductor cable offered online, coming out to under 9 cents a foot. I also went to Staples and got those little tags with strings on them, which I use to label all the identical-looking brown phone wires under the layout as I bring them to the control panel.