Decoder wire

[hotrainlover]

What AWG is decoder wire?  Does any one know where is the best place to buy this wire, in multiple colors?  This wire is great for use in DCC/sound installs. 

Thanks for the help!

[richg]

There is no best, only what works best for you.
The wire usually AWG30. I buy form Litchfield. I bought the Wire #30 AWG, ten feet of each color since I wire for sound. It includes purple wire. My way. I like the convenience.
At a train show I found shrink tube of each color from Traintek, LLC. Again, my way.


http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/home.php?cat=171

Rich

[NarrowMinded]

Before you buy wire, strip the cover off of some of your old mouse, or cheap USB cords many of them have very good #28 #30 wire inside, if you must have correct colors pick up a multi color package of magic markers and drag one down the white for the color you need. set it aside to dry though, then drag it through a paper towel and your good to go.

NM

[pdlethbridge]

futurlec sells  multi colored wire by the meter cheap. 10 core 28 gauge stranded $.50 a meter like this

[richg]

If you wire between a steam loco and tender, get the flexible stranded wire. Vinyl or plastic covered solid wire tends to be a little stiff. Also, with solid wire, a little knick when stripping the insulation off can cause the wire to break at that point with some flexing. Been there, done that, have the T shirt..

Some times I use #40 magnet wire as the insulation is very thin and tough but again, it is a solid wire useful for some DCC lighting applications with little room for the wires. Having worked in electronics for many years, I use what works.

Rich

[pdlethbridge]

The wire I mentioned is very flexible and easily separated from the other colors.

[NarrowMinded]

I'm Cheap and hate to buy wire, the wire in the cords is Very flexible, and it's free if it comes from a cord that is otherwise trash.

NM