Anybody used Cat 5e computer cable for the 8 leads on a tortise? I was going to use that to a Cat 5 plug then run the cable to where it was needed for control.
Accoring to the draw it should be fine.
Design facts:
D/C bus for turnouts is #14 awg stranded with a pot set at 11.5 volts (21 V DC is max on pot)
Using DPDT on the facia OR DS52 digitrax for routing.
Thank you.
Cat 5 works just fine. I have 30 Tortise machines wired using Cat 5. Cat 4 also works and usually costs less.
Since they have exactly eight conductors you can cut the wiring clutter as only one cable to each Tortise is required.
Ditto. I have about a hundred. But I use only about a foot of 8-conductor soldered to the Tortoise, to an 8-position terminal strip mounted on the benchwork. Then, depending on how many and how close together they are, 2-, 4-, 6-, or 8-conductor to a control panel. I use individual 20-gauge drops from bus power and frog to the relay connections on the terminal strip.
Makes changes MUCH easier.
A dumb question. what is cat 5 or cat 4?
I use Cat5 here too but I bring them back to telephone 66 blocks. It is real easy then to punch down connections and move them if needed.
scotcamper,
Definition: CAT5 is an Ethernet cable standard defined by the Electronic Industries Association and Telecommunications Industry Association (commonly known as EIA/TIA). CAT5 is the 5th generation of twisted pair Ethernet cabling and the most popular of all twisted pair cables in use today. Source: askjeeves.com
Hope this helps
As described, you get it at lowes and home depot in up to 1000ft Spools. The PUNCH DOWN is using a specila tool to PUNCH (push) yje wires into a 4,6,8 Connector Female End, Normal is 8. It is design for networks and will not allow Cross Talk (noise) to damage a data signal.
If you talk to a telephone repair man they can tell you where to get some Throw Away bulk connection points. the one I got is for 100 phones and is great for keeping track og things on a large Layout.
I have installed 24 swtiches with edge board connectors and CAT5 cable. it made the installation and wiring very easy and clean.
scotcamper Cat 5 is like your telephone cable, except that instead of 4 it has 8 wires in it. If you look at your modem it may have a cable going to your PC tower that has one. It will have 8 wires though. It is used for networks etc. Great for communication lines.
Works for electricity too. [;)]
Stephen