Hiya. Just got some Oregon Rail Supply signal kits. Didn’t realize they don’t come with wire to be threaded down the very teeny mast. Gadzooks it’s small!
The instructions refer to wire for motors, which I’m guessing is what I’ve seen as “magnet wire”? I don’t see anything in Walthers or Radio Shack smaller than about 30 gauge (which I used to think was pretty small!).
Anybody got a source? Or at least what, perzacktly, I’m looking for?
Check out Gerry Leone’s article in the Jan. MRC pg.85, on marker lamps. He mentions ( Ngineering ) as a source for thin magnet wire.
I use # 30 wire sold for “wire wrap”. Radio Shack used to have it. Try Mouser, Newark, Dig Key Etc. They sell two kinds, one you have to strip and one has soft insulation that cuts into the pins. Both will work but strip the wire first. Use a wire wrap tool if the LED’s have pins, makes the job easy. The PRR position signals require 5 wires and it will fit but takes care.
Digikey: they sell insulated wire as small as 38 AWG, and you don’t have to buy it in 1000 foot spools.
This may sound a little strange, but how about an old switch machine or an old loco and salvage the wire from them like we used to do?? Heck we used to unwind old door bell transformers. Yeah, I know, that was years ago before electonics of today. Ken
The problem with using motor wire is that the “insulation” is only a punky coating of shellac. Shorting is a perrenial problem with this sort of wire, as are small cracks in the wire, which break easily under electrical load. It’s easy, cheap and more reliable to buy new wire.
Thanks for the suggestion, but now I’m more “confused-er” than ever! I went to the Digikey web site, then to Cable & Wire, then Hook-up wire. The smallest they list is 36 gauge. Selecting only 36 gauge (none of the other “filters”), there are only 4 items, different colors of what appears to be a 1000 foot spool for $744!
32 gauge is nearly as bad, 4 colors at $30+ per roll (doesn’t say how long), but there’s a minimum of 7 rolls for $255.
I also poked around in various other categories, with even less luck.
What am I missing here? Did you buy it direct? Would you happen to have a part number?
Ah, yes, I got the “wrapping wire” at Radio Shack today. Looks like it’ll work great! I already had some “regular” 30 gauge, and it was just far too big to get even 2 down the mast. Never having heard of “wrapping wire” before, it didn’t make a whole lot of sense until I saw the stuff!
Thanks for the help!