For some reason it seems this whole town has either sold out of or never carried small size wire, such as 21 or 22 for feeder wires. Everybody has doorbell wire though, so is that ok for the purpose?
Jarrell
Should be fine - what size is it? If it’s too large it will stick out like a sore thumb soldered to the track. Do you have a Home Depot nearby? They have all sorts of wire. The stuff I use came on a spool as two twisted conductors, red and white, and I think the tag on the shelf said something like ‘alarm wire’. Don’t overlook wire that comes paired like that, it comes right apart into two singles and gives you two colors, one for each rail. Just be consistent on which color you use for which rail, so when you hook into your bus wires you don’t get the feeders crossed.
–Randy
Radio Shack will also sell alarm wire and similar types of handy wires. Although, they seem to be out of stock more often than not. I thought of applying for a job at the one closest to me, since I can memorize and spit out “sorry, we are out of stock on that” with the best of them. [(-D]
Thanks Randy. I’ll make the circuit again to see if one of them… Lowes or Home Depot… has it in.
Jarrell
“since I can memorize and spit out “sorry, we are out of stock on that” with the best of them.”
Mark, you’re dangerous…[:D]
thanks for the suggestions.
Jarrell
Has anyone ever tried using the small wires that are in an old computer cable? There are about 25 wires in each cable, and are around 8 ft. long. I’d say they are about 22 or 24 gauge and are each a different color. Maybe to small for feeder wire but I have used them for Structur lights, light poles, LEDs. etc…Be careful cutting the cable open not to cut the small wires inside. Mike
I normally use 4-22 telephone wire (4 22 gauge wires). Stripe the outer shell, and you have one each green, red, yellow and black wire.
Nick
Another option is Cat 5e cable. Gives you (4) twisted pair (8) wires. Works great for Tortise duty. EVERYBODY has this is stock from 10ft to 1000 ft.
Take Care
George P.
Small gauge speaker wire from Wal-mart is a good choice, too, and cheaper than any of the other sources mentioned above.
Jarrell
Try looking in the phone book for an electral supply in your area,I found one a number of years ago here in my town,and make a trip to it once or twice a month,things like shrink tubbing,switches,wire ,3mm and 5mm leds ect,ect.
JIM
Doorbell wire is fine. Any quality brand is 18 gauge. Get the two conductor stuff and you’ll be fine. Three conductor is OK too, you can use the green for turnout frogs.
Telco wire at 22 or 24 gauge is OK if you keep it short. (roughly 2 feet, 1 foot) You can go four feet with 18 ga and all of these are very conservative numbers.
In ant case, soldering to the bottoms of the rails helps to hide the feeders.
Have fun.
I use Radio Shack 24 gauge speaker wire. Stock has not been a problem with the one I live by.
Everyone that has posted a reply about this topic has some great ideas. It’s been a long time since I posted anything on this forum & I usually get my wire from scrap dealers for practically nothing.
I use 20 to 22 ga. wire for drops (solid) & the main buss wire is 16 ga. stranded. My layout is big & requires a lot of drops. I always solder the wires to the rails & use color coded wire. I have bought spools of wire from Home Depot before I learned about scrap dealers. It may have gone up in price in the past year because of the scrap value of copper. I have enough to last me for many years & won’t have to buy any for some time.
GAP RR
I finally found the door bell wire at Home Depot so I went with that. But, I imagine there are a lot of other folks that have been looking for wire also, not knowing what to buy or where, so you guys have probably helped a lot more people that me.
Much obliged for the help!
Jarrell