Pick up wire - gauge, type, source???

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hi,

I am looking for replacement wire for the runs on HO locos from the trucks to the motor. These are of course stranded wires (as they need to be very flexible) but I can’t figure out the proper gauge (22 is too large, decoder wire too small). Do you have any suggestions as to what would work, and a good MR source for it?

Thank you!

2

Jameco has #28 stranded in red and black

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_734603_-1

This is 2 sizes up from decoder wire, which is usually #30. They also have #24, but I think that will be too big. You can also get stranded wire in Ethernet patch cords - it’s usually #26 or so. A 10 foot patch cable yields 80 feet of stranded wire, though it will not match NMRA color codes. You just have to cut off the ends and strip off the outer jacket. There will be 4 pairs of wire twisted together.

Some locos have wire no bigger than decoder wire from the pickups. Considering most of the current goes through the decoder wire to the motor, it should be fine, actually.

–Randy

3

Randy,

Once again you saved the day. After I wrote this post, I remembered that I had spools of hook up wire for Lionel accessories. I took a look at them and they are both #22 (3 wire and 4 wire) and they are just too big.

Thank you for the link!

ENJOY

4

An old PC mouse has good wire in the cable for this.

I use #30 from an online DCC supplier. Comes in the NMRA colors also.

The 28 strand is more flexible than the 7 strand wire.

Rich

5

You can get 30 gauge stranded wire at Powerwerx.

http://www.powerwerx.com/wire-cable/ptfe-high-temperature-stranded-wire.html

I have used this vendor before.

Five bucks for 25 feet.

Rich

6

Thanks guys!

I ordered #26 and #28 yesterday and #30 this morning. I should have done this years ago.

7

Jameco is like $5 for 100 feet of the #28 [:D]

Although who would need 100 foot of wire to run pickups in locos I don’t know. The same $5 will get you a mere 10 foot patch cord, but that nets 80 feet of wire, still more than enough to rewire every loco you, I, and half the forum own. LOL.

–Randy

8

You NEVER have enough wire!

LION accepts all parallel port printer cables for use on the layout of him.

ROAR