Hi all
I've come here hoping I can find some help, I'm an HO slot racing hobbyist with a bit of a dilema. I've built a custom routed track, where we use flat wire on edge for power rails. This wire is set in a 1/16" groove and secured in place with hookup wire, which "pinces" the rail in place in the slot and serves as color-coding for the lanes. (The wire does not carry and electricity) Here's an sample from the actual track I'm working on...notice that the blue and yellow lanes are finished:
I was at a local train show where I found the perfect wire for this job, a single-conductor "Made in Taiwan" wire that was made/distributed by NJ Inernational. My dilema is that NJI no longer carries it, and the person I bought it from, who had bought out most or all of NJI's remaining stock of this wire, did not have any red or white left. I've been having a tough time finding wire distributors who will actually measure their product, I've found a few "close" candidates but nothing that works as well as the NJI stuff. So...I've come to a few railroading forums in hopes of finding anyone who may have a few rolls of genuine NJI or something similar to spare or can point me to a source. The spools are not labeled for gauge, it is part #8421 and the specs are basically unmarked (no imprinting) 7x?? stranded wire with .015-.016 insulation and the critical part...an outside diameter of .046 +\- .001. I would need at least 3 50' rolls each of red and white, preferably 4 each, or 2 100' rolls each. Here's a pic of the NJI stuff I used, would love to find this in red and white:
Of course I'm not expecting 80 cents per roll
Thanks in advance to anyone who might be able to help...and happy holidays to all
Crazy thought - would .047 piano wire, painted, work? .047 is a standard size.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
You said something about flat, and I'm not sure what you mean by that. But what you have looks like standard 22 gage hook up wire. I doubt very much that NJI would have specified anything special, and suspect that something standard was re-packaged for resale with the NJI label.
I have a similar spool that is marked Rainbow Line wire. It says made in China for Model Power (Model Power is a model train company). I stripped an end and there are 7 strands. The outside of the insulation measures about 0.041 inch with my micrometer. Have you checked your local Radio Shack store?
rrinker Crazy thought - would .047 piano wire, painted, work? .047 is a standard size. --Randy
Hi Randy, thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately, solid wire wouldn't work, it needs to "pinch" into the slot. Glue is also used in the bottom of the slot, but the wire is what sets the power rail firmly in place. I'll explain a little more in the next reply.
-Gene
maxman You said something about flat, and I'm not sure what you mean by that. But what you have looks like standard 22 gage hook up wire. I doubt very much that NJI would have specified anything special, and suspect that something standard was re-packaged for resale with the NJI label. I have a similar spool that is marked Rainbow Line wire. It says made in China for Model Power (Model Power is a model train company). I stripped an end and there are 7 strands. The outside of the insulation measures about 0.041 inch with my micrometer. Have you checked your local Radio Shack store?
Hi maxman
Hopefully this drawing I slapped together will explain...this would be the profile of one lane:
The large slot in the middle is the guide pin slot, on either side is a power rail locked in place with glue and the hookup wire. The math tells me roughly where I need to be...the slot is 1/16" (.062), the rail material is .017, so the remaining gap is .045 give or take a thousandth. The NJI wire is .046~.047 which is a perfect pinch-fit. If it wasn't for some cars that employ traction magnets, I wouldn't even need glue. I also can't go too far oversized due to the stress it would place on the MDF in the area I put the exclamation mark. I found some wire that was advertised at .047, it measures .050-.051 and is too tight. I did find some .045 that will be a last resort as it puts very little holding pressure on the rail.
I hear ya on the re-branding thing, which is exactly why I'm throwing this out here as I'm sure someone else has done the same thing very possibly with the same Taiwan company. I know that in our little slot car world there are very few trade/supplier secrets anymore and would imagine the same holds true for railroading supplies. I've tried emailing NJI for the source but haven't heard anything back.
What about Brawa wire. Comes in a variety of colors and it is approximately 24 or 26 gauge.
Walthers carries the entire line:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=&manu=brawa&item=&keywords=wire&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search
Alton Junction
Another possibility is Radio Shack. They have several gauges of telephone and intercom wire in various colors.
http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=4%20conductor&origkw=4%20conductor&sr=1
swampergene I've tried emailing NJI for the source but haven't heard anything back.
I've tried emailing NJI for the source but haven't heard anything back.
If you want to get information from NJ International, just call them. I called last week on another matter and they picked up the phone on the first ring. Phone: (480) 219-4135.
Rich
Where do you live? Maybe one of us can recommend a store in your area. My LHS (Local Hobby Shop) carries a variety of wire, but for most electronics parts there's another store a few towns away.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi Rich, thanks for the replies.
The Brawa wire is too small at .036. The solid wire is in the right range, the problem there is that solid wire generally uses a very thin insulation which could cause problems with expansion/contraction during temperature changes. My garage is heated but only when I'm in there, so there will be some wide temp swings during the winter, my feeling is that a thicker .015-.016 insulation will help to absorb movement. I have tried many RS and other telecom cables, using the core wires, and just haven't been able to get anything that's as good a fit as the NJI wire. I have gotten a very good education on wire though
If I don't hear back from him soon, I'll try calling NJI.....thanks!
I'm wondering what the wire/insulation diameter tolerance is on commercially available wire. Here is another company that has some 7 strand, 24 AWG wire with a diameter of 0.043 inch. Probably still not quite what you need, but a little closer. Their item number 6712: http://www.hughespeters.com/Featured_Products/images/AlphaWire_EcoWire.pdf
Just a thought, I haven't researched it but could you use a solid monofiliment like fishing line or a similar product. I don't fish so I don't know what diameters they come in. Also, string trimmers use a similar material. Since you are not using it for power it doesn't have to be metal, does it?
Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Just did a Bing search and found .047 monofilament at Amazon. Here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Teflon-Monofilament-White-Diameter-Length/dp/B000FPC3M8
Have you tried any of the electronics supply houses , like: Mauser, Digikey or Allied Electronics? They all have web sites, or you can order their catalogs (free). Most of of their product description are quite thorough
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
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