Where to get decent wire for encoders and pots etc

[raygun]

Hello All

Just a quick simple question and one that I hope someone can answer reasonably easily. I have a Leo Bodner card and a multitude of switches and encoders to be wired up on my cockpit and I was wondering if anyone has a good supplier of wire for the task. I need something reasonably small gauge as it is going to be inlayed into the back of some of my panels. Currently I am using ethernet cable that came on a roll and is the stuff you run from servers to workstations. It is blue with 4 multi coloured strands inside. It is quite good but as it is single core copper it tends to break if you have to mave any of the switches about whilst working on the inside of the panel.

I think I remember someone saying that is best to use multi strand cable as it will tolerate a bit more movement but I don't know what gauge to use or where is the best place to get it from.
Any assistance would be great thanks

Raygun

[XOrionFE]

I have gotten wire from this place

http://www.allspectrum.com/store/stranded-core-wire-c-85_146.html?page=6&sort=4a&osCsid=6b2b17c8673139aca05bf7a0dfdfe398

Stranded 24 gauge is what I prefer for most things.   Maybe a little heavy for pots.   You could probably do 26 for that.  Take 3 different colors, white , red, black...throw one end in a drill and tie other end to something and spin them together.

Scott

[mickc]

You can get stranded CAT5 cable, that's what they make patch leads out of.
The stuff you have is the building grade cable that usually lives in walls and ceilings, so doesn't get moved much - hence the single core.

I am unfamiliar with suppliers in the UK, but found this once with a quick Google :

http://www.misco.co.uk/Product/189868/LINDY-CAT5-UTP-Stranded-8-Core-4-Pair-Cable-Grey-100m

I run the same stuff and it works great.  You can also get shielded stuff for long runs or critical signals like flight controls etc.

[Joe Lavery]

Hey Tony,

I use single cable from Rapid Electronics here in the UK. They are relatively cheap for most of your electronic components. Like Scott I use the drill method to twist cables together, keeps them tidy.

http://www.rapidonline.com/Cables-Connectors/Rapid-Equipment-wire-7-0-2mm-62320

The link above is the cable I use, multi strand but in a single cable. It's available in 100M rolls and in lots of colours.

Joe.

[sluyt050]

I got 1000 ft. AWG22 very high quality tefzel insulated stranded wire from:
http://www.prowireusa.com/c-61-m22759-16-22.aspx

I only bought white and use it in combination with cable markers.
Hopefully I ordered enough to do my OVH panels and MIP.

BTW, I also bought circuit breakers from them for my 5 and 12V mains.

[andthiel]

Hi Folks

Here is a link for stranded wire for builders in Germany/Europe:

http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/overview/2510118/Zwillingslitzen-Modellbauanwendung

Happy soldering...

Cheers,

Andreas


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[raygun]

Hello all

Many thanks for the responses, I have a couple of cat 5 cables lying around so I will start with them, they seem like the size that will suit my panel as they need to be set in behind the bezels and wired to the encoders.

As ever I am very grateful for the help

Regards

Tony