I purchased the same type from Amazon that Ed (gmpullman) posted above.
I really like it, easy to strip and solder and it routes nicely. Its great for pickup wire as it allows the trucks / gearboxes to pivot freely.
Jim
Pete, thanks for posting this thread. Good, ueseful information. I have not tried silicone insulated wire, but I may now give it a try.
Rich
Alton Junction
Pete & PC101,
I believe the flexible wire I purchased before was the NCE 32 AWG ultra-flex hookup wire. As the name implies, it's very flexible. It also comes in 10 different colors:
I'm sure NCE (and others) purchase their wire in large spools from either Mouser or Digi-Key then package it in 10' & 20' lengths to sell.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Tom, any chance that stiffer wire is from Crusader Rail Services out of Philadelphia, Pa., Crusader Project Parts (I purchased it at a Timonium train show) 10' of 7 colors?
I like Miniatronics Corp. has #30 gauge stranded ultra flexible wire 10' of 4 colors black, green, red and white #48-130-04.
I like TCS #30 gauge 10' in blue, white, red, black, yellow, gray and orange.
TSC has a thinner jacket then the Miniatronics and both are #30 gauge wire.
I will keep an eye out for silicone insulated wire to try on the next project.
silicone insulated wire is more expensive than 'standard, normally some type of thermoplastic' insulation ...
telflon is even a higher cost than silicon and is usually more tough but slightly less flexible ...
there is a place for all types of wire and insulation
Not decoders... but for tender to locomotive connections I used 24 gauge "test probe" wire with silicone insulation.
It was very flexible, and flawless.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Pete,
I have a drawer of various colored wire that I keep in 2 x 3 clear plastic ziploc bags. The one I picked up thinking it was TCS was actually not TCS but a different brand. When opened a bag that I had labeled as TCS, it was indeed stiffer.
I'm trying to recollect where I purchased the more flexible wire. If I'm able to remember I'll poke my head back in...
Ed.
That's the stuff and it's pre tinned to boot.
Tom.
My last batch of decoder wire was also TCS. If you ever handle silicone insulated wire you will see that the TCS wire is a lot stiffer. I've been using the TCS wired JST six pin connector for my tender connection for over a decade. Like Ed said, the BLI harness is more flexible by far.
Pete.
I use silicone insulated wire in decoder installs quite often. There are times, though, that I find the insulation to be a thicker cross section and in a tight diesel shell this can be a hassle to try to pack in there.
This is a common type I use: https://a.co/d/jiF7842
and in these other colors: https://a.co/d/1i0IMuw
In these cases I'll use the Digitrax (there are other brands) decoder wire which is still soft and flexible but a much thinner cross section.
https://www.digitrax.com/products/accessories/decoderwire/
I'd like to find a source, although I really haven't given it much effort, to find the particularly flexible, black wire Broadway Limited uses for their engine to tender harnesses. It is a good quality wire (many fine copper strands) and a soft, black vinyl insulation.
I use Teflon insulated wire for signals due to its thin cross section and tenacious durability. I got mine from NJI and/or eBay some years ago.
Good Luck, Ed
I've been purchasing my wire from Litchfield Station and they sell 30AWG TCS insulated wire. It's very flexible and great for decoder installations. And to help tame & control multiple strands of wiring, I twist and/or braid groups of wire to create a cable(s):
That helps keep them away from moving parts that don't play nicely with wiring. It also makes them easier to route and fasten down with Kapton tape, as well as when creating connectors (pictured above) for connection/disconnection.
Greg..
Yes. Silicone insulated wire. I use 30 to 36 AWG wire for decoders and LEDs. The balance leads on my LIPO battery packs are 28awg and unbelievably flexible.
I've used wire from almost all the decoder manufacturers. Some are hard and stiff. Some difficult to strip without losing strands even with a high quality tool. And some that takes a lot of heat to tin.
I'm going to shop around and try some of the silicone insulated wire on the next locomotive I install a decoder in.
you mean silicone insulated wire. a lot of wire i have is teflon insulation and i have a much harder time stripping it
the stiffness of the wire depends on the wire itself, mostly thickness. multi-stranded wire is much more flexible.
i use 30g wire for wire-wrapping or maybe LEDs. most decoder wire carries higher currents
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Hey good people.
While doing some maintenance on my RC helicopters I got to thinking about how much wireing on them is silicone. Very very flexible over comparable gauge vinal or PVC wire. Why can't decoder manufacturers switch to it? Especially tender to steam locomotive harnesses. The only downside I can see is chafing resistance. But that is easily overcome with grommets, fastening, or tape. Silicone 30awg wire is readily available in all the NMRA colors and not nearly as expensive as standard decoder wire. Easy to work with and takes solder without problems.
What are your thoughts? Would you try it?