Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Smallest AWG Available for a Loco's Pickup

2192 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 4, 2021 8:31 PM

 Old mice cables, old cell phone charging cables where the end has frayed are good sources. Most any hobby seller has a bundle of "decoder wire" as sold by Digitrax, NCE, and others. That works too.

                                          --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, March 4, 2021 7:43 PM

I might have got some out of an old mouse cable maany years ago.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, March 4, 2021 6:15 PM

I add a small sleeve of heat shrink tubing to mine. It adds a bit or strain relief where the insulation ends.

 Truck-wirB by Edmund, on Flickr

 

This is the silicone wire I sometimes use:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KQ2JNLI/ref=dp_iou_view_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I keep several varieties on hand. There's a second box with different colors available, too.

Good Luck, Ed

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Thursday, March 4, 2021 5:34 PM

30 AWG wire will be just fine.  Just make sure it's stranded and has the superflexible insulation.  You can pick it up from Litchfield Station.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, March 4, 2021 5:07 PM

Ian R.
According to the local tech working on them, the needed wires are quite small, though he doesn't know their size. And since Covid shut down the Walthers repair shop, he's gotten absolutely zero response from them since last October and, thus, can't proceed with the work.

5 months and he's stumped on wire size?  He doesn't get a vote of confidence from me.  He obviously has never installed a decoder in an old loco, nor does he own calipers or a micrometer.

https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/wire/wire-gauge-chart.html

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, March 4, 2021 4:28 PM

Either #28 or #30 AGW stranded wire, I have been using the silicone insolated wire as it is like super flex.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=30AWG+Strand+Wire+Silicone&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&LH_PrefLoc=1&_osacat=0&_odkw=28AWG+Strand+Wire+Silicone

Sometimes #28 is cheaper than #30.

 

Mel



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

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, March 4, 2021 4:11 PM

Some years ago I bought #30 multi strand  rubber covered was more flexible than vinyl covered. Forgot the source.

 

Rich

 

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    July 2020
  • 35 posts
Smallest AWG Available for a Loco's Pickup
Posted by Ian R. on Thursday, March 4, 2021 3:56 PM

My Walthers' Proto 2000 F7 A-B units (only seven years old and lightly used) need new wiring for the truck pickups. 

According to the local tech working on them, the needed wires are quite small, though he doesn't know their size.  And since Covid shut down the Walthers repair shop, he's gotten absolutely zero response from them since last October and, thus, can't proceed with the work.

For those techies in the know, what AWG size wire does he need to complete the repair?  And is that size - or another size that will do the job - available outside of Walthers?  If so, where?

Many thanks!

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!