Where do i go to get 6 connector telephone wire that would be used for connecting Digitrax Loconet stuff?
Thanks
The only place that I could get 6 conductor cable locally was at Lowe’s home improvement. They stock all the 6 conductor wire and connectors anyone could possibly need; no other store in my area had any. Otherwise, you could buy some online: most online electronic or DCC stores have it.
If you can’t find one local www.Loys toys.com.probably has more digitrax equipment on stock than anyone else.Terry.
Loy’s Toys sells the cable, ends and crimping tool, or they will make up the cables for you to the lengths you need.
Have fun,
Tom Watkins
Just going to agree with the other post.
I get all of my supplies from Lowes, but DON"T buy the plastic crimper (it doesn’t hold up) spend the extra couple of dollars and buy the metal one.
At one time our local Wal-Mart had the wire, clips, and the PLASTIC crimper.
Bob
Radio Shack also carries the ends and a good crimping tool, but most of their stores don’t carry bulk 6-conductor cable anymore. However, most stores do carry 25’ and 50’ pre-made 6-conductor phone cords that aren’t too expensive, and can of course be cut to the length you need.
My local Ace hardware has 6 conductor cable and connectors, but did not have a 6 wire crimper in stock, but ordered it for me. Lowes and Home Depot also carry the cables.
OK thanks. Also, would I be able to get about 40 DPDT momentary mini switches at any of these places?
Not at a reasonable price. For the switches, I would look at Digikey, Mouser, Jameco, or All Electronics before Radio Shack. Radio Shack has such things, but never 40 in stock and the price is too high. Any of those places would also sell 6-wire cable and ends, as well.
–Randy
I bought my momentary push switches from Radioshack. I paid $2 or so for four buttons. Two black and two red ones.
How would you wire up push buttons to throw turnouts?
If they are twin coil, like the Atlas or Peco ones, it goes like this:
One wire from the power source to the common wire of the switch machine. The other wire fromthe power suppy goes to one terminal of each pushbutton. The remaining terminal on each pushbutton gets connected to one side or the other of the switch machine.
For Tortoise and other slow motion switch machines, you really need a control circuit to use pushbuttons. Those types of switch motors need power applied at all times, and are easier to wire with a DPDT toggle switch.
–Randy
Since we started out talking about Digitrax, do you mean pushbuttons to control turnouts via a stationary decoder like a DS54? There is a recent thread on that topic (ie last year)