Need some correct names and sources for the following items:
The wire used to daisy chain the controller plug in stations (bulk not premade)
The connectors for that wire
The tool to fasten the connectors to the wire
Led color and size for headlights and resistor size
Decoder connection wire
Thank you
When the local electronic parts stores and train hobby shop closed here in Bakersfield I was forced to go to mail order. With the free shipping option on eBay that has worked for me for the last 8 years.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I’m happy with this:
and for more colors:
Diditrax sells a nine-wire by ten feet selection as well but the Amazon stuff is a bit less expensive:
https://tonystrains.com/product/digitrax-decoder-wire-assortment
I have an Ideal RJ12 crimping tool but I don’t see the exact one but it is very close to this Klein model:
Are you talking Digitrax? Here are instructions for Loconet.
http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB825/making-loconet-cables/
RJ12 connectors: 6P6C Six positions, Six conductors
6 conductor flat wire:
Sometimes it is cheaper to buy made up phone extension cable and cut to the length you need and attach a plug when needed.
Good Luck, Ed
1, 2 & 3 It may or may not vary by manufacturer of the DCC system. I’m sure Randy knows, but I don’t. We just had a thread on NCE. The tool would be a crimper, but they are often specific to the number of wires in the cable.
4 Warm white 3mm led, 1000 ohm resistors, work for my period the transition era.
5 Decoder connection wire generally 30 ga, available in packs of the appropriate colors from Litchfield Station or Tony’s Trains.
Sources depending on what you need for cable and tool, you may be able to buy it from Home Depot or Digikey or Mouser Electronics on the web. Yes I have bought cheaply from Ebay China sources, but given what I have read recently on involuntary organ donation, I can no longer justify doing so.
are you asking about the rj-12 cable connecting one UTP to another? if so, 4 conductor flat cable is easier to attach connector to.
I have been using 3mm LEDs for headlights, as I model the early 50s I use Warm White LEDs for the 50s look. Bright White would look better in newer locomotives. I use the standard 1000Ω ¼ watt resistors for headlights, much higher value for interior lighting.
Bright White
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_nkw=3mm+bright+white+round+superbright+led&_sop=15
I go with wide angle Warm White LEDs for interior lighting at very low current, normally 4700Ω to 10000Ω ⅛ watt resistors.
While we’re on the subject of fine high-frequency wire, here is a handy PDF table of Litz wire that may be a useful resource.
The wire used for NCE and Digitrax is often referred to as RJ12 but that isn’t an actual specification - it’s really RJ11 6p6c (6 pins, 6 conductor). NCE only uses 4 of the wires, but trying to put 4 wire cable in a 6 pin connector is asking for trouble because it’s easy to offset it, and then things won’t work. There are no issues having all 6 wires in the plugs for NCE.
Here are the ends:
https://www.monoprice.Here’s com/product?p_id=7270
Here’s the cable (though you cna go elsewhere and get less than 1000 foot spools)
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=956
Here isa good crimp tool. Don’t skimp on the crimp tool. This one strips and uses a ratcheting action to ensure a good crimp
Since I hard wire most of my decoders, I often have plenty of cutoff wire sections, but I picked up this to have extra:
For headlights I use golden white LEDs for first gen diesels. A variety of sizes depending on the loco. Mostly the 3mm size, but for some the 5mm size fits in place of the original incandescent bulb. I don’t need ditch lights or anything for my era so I have no need of tiny surface mount LEDs, yet. I usually ge