Hey this looks like it could work as some pretty cheap wire to use for remote switches. Seller said it is solid core 22 gauge with each wire in its own shielding and color.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIGNAL-CABLE-22-3-PAIR-WIRE-250-PULL-BOX-/270620777525?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f02415c35
What do you think?
Kev.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
I have used 24 gauge telephone wire ( Red, Green, Black, Yellow )( 24 gauge ) for my 022 switches , and it works fine. Never had any problems. And yes - its very affordable - I have bought 100 ft rolls for 10 bucks at Lowes, I'm into my second roll now. use it for switches, uncouple- remote control tracks and signals.
Steve
By the time you pay the shipping, it's not such a bargain. You can buy telephone cable at your local Lowes or Home Depot for less money and it'll work just as well.
Yeah I think you could be right. I did not know you could use something as small as phone wire.
I liked it because it is 22 gauge x 250' and for me $16.99 shipping is really..... humm lets see.
17 miles one way to Menards x 2= 34 miles. Truck that gets 12.5 mph 34 miles divided by 12.5 mpg = 2.72 gallons of fuel at $3.65 per gallon cost = $9.92 to drive, take that from $16.99 shipping charge and adjusted shipping would be $7.07 and I can stay home and split wood or something else.
Guess it has a lot to do with where you live.
Have a good one,
I have used lots of telephone wire for switches, but for long wire runs, 15 feet or more, I double it up.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Switches actually don't draw as much power as you might imagine, and it's only momentary as well. I run my 022 switches on 16 volts, and they snap very smartly on a run of 30 feet of #24 telephone cable.
I use the old twin coil switch machines, they need a good dose of power to get that needed snap.
What model of switch are you talking about?
They were sold by KMT & NJ international. I understand the overseas factory that made them burnt to to ground. So what folks have now is all there will be for the time being. 2 railers used them, GG switches came without switch motors so thats where they were used the most. These are not switches, just twin coil snap type switch machines.
I suspect those particular snap switch machines aren't a concern to 99.9% of the folks here. I'm talking about your typical 022 switch, or perhaps the O27 switches.
You ask a question, I gave you an answer.
sir james I You ask a question, I gave you an answer.
Well I went ahead and ordered the wire up anyway, I will let you know how it looks and works.
Tks,
Kev
My reply was for gunrunnerjohn..The wire works fine and even if you double up it only has to be on the power wire..And if your switches are track powered it won't matter at all.
Even without track power you don't need it doubled up. The switches don't take that much power. If you're going to run a couple hundred feet to them, I'd change my answer.
The same coil current flows through both sides of the circuit. Aside from the question of what size wire and whether doubled, the same wire resistance on either side of the circuit will cause the coil to see the same voltage drop.
Bob Nelson
gunrunnerjohn By the time you pay the shipping, it's not such a bargain...
By the time you pay the shipping, it's not such a bargain...
This seller only charges $2.00 more shipping for each additional roll - it turns in to a bargain pretty quickly if you need two or more or split an order with a friend.
Rob
Thermostat wire works well, too. Solid copper, I think 20 or 22 gauge. Comes with three or more conductors--all different colors.
I went to Menards and looked at other wires and it is a hard push to beat this if you only want 3 wire cable. I know you can double small stuff but that doubles the cost as well. You can get more wires in a cable. But this just looked like a fair deal to replace Lionel 3 wire switch wire to me. It will arrive today and I will see if it was a good deal or not. I am doing 9 remote switch on a 12' x 16' table so i will use a lot.
Kevin
I think the thermostat wire is actually 18 guage but I am wrong a lot. But my question is do you use the same thermostat wire for fixed voltage if you are running at 16 volts or due you need a 14 guage wire?
Thanks Harold
Unless you have a huge layout, you don't need 14 gauge for anything. 16 will do the job safely. If your using an older transformer it's a good idea to add 20 amp auto fuses in line with each circuit.
It's really amps that will size your wire. UL listed wire will handle up to 600 volts. Even your lamp cord you know will handle at least the 120 volts running your house. So you could very well use 18 gauge wire.
I don't have any experience using thermostat wire for anything other then thermostats, so I couldn't advise you there. But I can say that since it's for your switches, you only use a very short burst of electricity to change the direction of your train, which means you're not maintaining a constant load, causing the wire to heat up, perhaps to the point of melting the insulation and causing other problems.
I think thermostat wire is more like 22- 24 gauge. 18 gauge thermostat wire would be like using monster cable, at least for thermostats.
lionelnut I think the thermostat wire is actually 18 guage but I am wrong a lot. But my question is do you use the same thermostat wire for fixed voltage if you are running at 16 volts or due you need a 14 guage wire? Thanks Harold
Thermostat wire is usually 18 AWG. I get mine off a large reel marked "18-10", but it's actually 20 AWG.
The standard specified size for thermostat wire is 18ga. I just checked a spool of thermostat wire that claims to be 18ga, and it measures 0.04" in diameter, which is indeed 18ga wire.
Hey If anyone is still interested I got the wire and low and behold it has 6 wires in the cable all with their own shielding and markings. So I thought it was 3 wire and now it is 6 wire. At any rate it will do what I need it to.
I even asked then if it was 3 wire with shielding. Wird way to say 22/6 if you ask me.
SIGNAL CABLE 22/3 PAIR WIRE 250' PULL BOX
Well, I guess three pairs is indeed six wires.
Yeah John,
Sure glad I am a klutz some times.
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