HO Railroad Crossing Signals extending wires to GCP

[Audioquest]

Hi, I recently purchased NJ International signal crossing, no gate and Logic Rail Tech GCP 

I need to extend the length of the 3 wires from the signal crossing to the GCP.

The signal crossing has two black wires which each include resisters and one white common wire. 

What would be the recommended way to add an additional 3 ft to each wire which I would connect to the GCP

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[RR_Mel]

I use #28 awg ribbon wire for such extensions.  That type load draws very low current so #28 wire will work very good.



You can separate how many conductors you need easily.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=100%27+roll+%2328+ribbon+cable&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=15&_osacat=0&_odkw=%2328+ribbon+cable

I watch eBay for lowest pricing, normally about $18 plus shipping for 20 to 26 conductor.  That’s 2000’ of #28 wire for around $25 total. About 1½¢ per foot.



Mel


 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

[MisterBeasley]

It's just 3 wires, and short ones at that.  If I had any around, I'd probably use some 4-conductor phone wire, just because the wires are already bundled together, but if not I would just roll out a couple of colors of connecting wire.

It's a good opportunity to practice wire splicing, soldering and insulating with shrink wrap.

[Audioquest]

Thank, were do you get shrink that small for #28 or phone wire. Have not seen any

[Audioquest]

Would anyone be able to take a photo of the photocells that show how their connection to the GCP. I assume you have to solder two separate wires from the photocell to the GCP Thanks

[MisterBeasley]

As I recall, my photocells from Rob Paisley came with short pigtails attached.  However, I wanted to place the furthest photocells some distance from the crossing to get the lights on a few seconds before the train arrived, so I had to extend them anyway.  Yes, each photocell requires two wires.  Get used to soldering.  It's pretty easy, mostly just splicing extensions, but there will be a number of them.  I also assume you'll need a separate power feed, either from a layout bus or a separate supply.  My circuit boards run on 12 VDC, which conveniently is what I have on my lighting and accessory bus running around the layout.

I used something like #24 wire and appropriate shrink tubing.  I used to live about a half hour from a decent electronics supply place, so I usually made a list and went there every few months.

Everything is still in boxes, and when I built my crossings it was kind of sloppy so I didn't take pictures.  Sorry.

[Audioquest]

would I need to purchase Adhesive Lined tubing or non lined tubing

[Overmod]

Audioquest

would I need to purchase Adhesive Lined tubing or non lined tubing

With shrink it doesn't matter; it will 'center' over the knot at the splice and the gaps in the insulation.  Use a dab of goo or caulk on one end if you worry about it creeping over the years or slipping if pushed.

[gmpullman]

Audioquest

would I need to purchase Adhesive Lined tubing or non lined tubing

I never felt the need to get the adhesive lined stuff. Sometimes I slip two different sizes of HST heating the smaller piece first then slipping the larger one over that if I think I need extra strain relief on an assembly.

Amazon has 1/8 heat shrink if you can't find it anywhere else. Most of those assortment packs have lots of sizes that are really too big for model RR work.

I use lots of four conductor 22ga. stranded telco wire for many lighting and signal applications. Easy to strip and a good size for many uses plus the strands can be pulled out of the jacket easily if you want to use individual wires.

Audioquest

Would anyone be able to take a photo of the photocells that show how their connection to the GCP.

My GCP has been converted to infra-red detection, hence the replacement chip in the socket. Here's a representative photocell, one of four, installed. You would twist four of the photocell wires, one from each, and twist them into the [gnd] terminal. Each of the other four wires go to east and west, near and far terminals respectively.

GCP_PC2 by Edmund, on Flickr

This is how I add the extender wires to the PC:

GCP_PC1 by Edmund, on Flickr

My first Grade Crossing Pro was installed over ten years ago and has performed flawlessly ever since. Great product 

If you plan to run with room lights dimmed you may consider I-R detection now rather than later.

Good Luck, Ed

 

[Audioquest]

Thanks Ed

[Audioquest]

how far away should the photocell be from the crossing signal to activate 

[MisterBeasley]

For my flashers, I like about 3 feet.  For gates, about 4 or 5 feet because they need time to drop down before the train gets there.  Some of this depends on train speed.  If you run fast trains, you need more distance.