28 gauge wire too small?

[Dr Zero]

Is 28 gauge wire too small for a control panel? I found some ribbon cable and was thinking of using it but its 28awg.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/CCBL-34/34-CONDUCTOR-RAINBOW-RIBBON-CABLE//1.html

[BobA]

28 is a bit small I think the recommended gauge for signal wiring is 22. The wire will work but it is difficult to crimp the fasteners.   Stripping more insulation and so you can fold the wire and get a double thickness to crimp to sometimes helps.  With wire that small it is often hard to make a sturdy connection.  eg the connectors pull off easily.

[Dr Zero]

28 is a bit small I think the recommended gauge for signal wiring is 22. The wire will work but it is difficult to crimp the fasteners.   Stripping more insulation and so you can fold the wire and get a double thickness to crimp to sometimes helps.  With wire that small it is often hard to make a sturdy connection.  eg the connectors pull off easily.

Thats what I needed to know! Finding multi color wire is kind of hard. I think I found some 22 that I use!!

[kowal]

original cab use 22-26AWG
on stick sometime I use 32AWG (0,20mm) but need double thickness on single wire, on daisy chain all is OK.

http://kowal.itcom.pl/foto/asOKB-KK1.jpg

[gryhnd]

I use Cat5e cable (24G) successfully.

[RandyT]

Other than the aforementioned mechanical issues related to crimping, 28ga is fine.  Wire gauge is based on current loads, and signal level loads are tiny.  Just don't try to power something  through it without considering the load.

RandyT

[Dr Zero]

Thanks for all the advice I appreciate it 

I might have some cat5 left over at the old house hmmm will have to check into that.

[JohnEDollar]

I use Cat5e cable (24G) successfully.

+1 on the Cat5e (stranded).

I've also had good results with old printer, and serial cables. 

- John

[Dr Zero]

I use Cat5e cable (24G) successfully.

+1 on the Cat5e (stranded).

I've also had good results with old printer, and serial cables. 

- John

 

Arg I just gave away a banana box full of printer and serial cables! I will have to keep an eye out for some more.

[CheffoJeffo]

+1 to BobA and RandyT

I have LOTS of small gauge wire and I NEVER use it in cabinets. Not worth the effort -- choose to make good crimps -- connections are EVERYTHING in an arcade machine.

[DillonFoulds]

It all depends on your terminations. If you're soldering, or using screw terminals, you'll be fine. If you're crimping on connectors, then plan on wiring that matches your connectors. On my first panel, I used cat5e as I had an abundance of it at my disposal. I will NEVER use it again. It's twisted, so harder to make look nice, it's thinner, so I had to double or triple it up to get the connectors crimped on (what I thought was) solid, but even still they'd give me a couple loose wires.

This time making the panel, I bought a 6$ roll of wire, and everything went MUCH smoother and connections are now MUCH more solid. I went with a bit heavier gauge (18awg), just because it was MUCH cheaper than anything else the store had. It made things more difficult when it came to daisy chaining, but some creative wire twists got me there.


Cat5e
Versus:
18AWG

[Dr Zero]

Let me ask another question, do you all find that using different colors for different connections is easier to trouble shoot or using the same color for all makes no difference.

[DillonFoulds]

Digital Multimeter, Continuity setting. What more would you need?

You could use multi-colored wiring, but it's just gonna cost you more in the end, unless you're re-using wire.

Just pick up a 6$ roll of wire. It'll be worth it. Promise.

[gryhnd]

I use Cat5e cable (24G) successfully.

[JustMichael]

Use whatever wire you have on hand.  With smaller gauge wire you may need to fold it over a few times before crimping.  Now if the wire is going to be moving a lot, use stranded wire instead of solid wire.

[Franco B]

I often use 12 core 16/0.2mm (20AWG) cable.



I find it ideal for long cable runs or for keeping small sections together.





I find the colours help on long cable runs where is not always practical to use a meter.

The wire crimps beautifully and fits AMP connector pins very well.

[bkenobi]

I bought a length of that wire a while back for basically the same purpose.  It's basically the same as using an IDE cable except that it's got several more colors.  Many people have used IDE cables for wiring things up in the past from reading old cab threads.  I decided to just get some stranded wire from Radio Shack instead since it would be easier to crimp QD's to.

[jholman76]

+1 Cat5e cable

I just did my bartop CP with it last night. It works great, just dont de-shield it all! I tried to keep it in the shield as much as possible. Looks good and then you dont have to buy wire sheathing. Just a couple zippys and it looks good.

Having the color code seems easier to me also. Rather than poke 10 wires with a continuity tester, I can just look and match, although that doesnt tell you if your circuit is good  ... but it did make the initial hook up easier.

I used stranded and it crimped fine into the quick disconnects. I just stripped double the amount, twisted, and folded it over and it all worked first try.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I used cat5e for my cabinet.  I got it for cheap over at http://www.cablewholesale.com/buy/cat-5-e-network-cables.htm
I ordered the 7 foot ones ($1.35 each) and simple cut off the connectors when I got them.  The place I ordered from has many different colors to choose from.

I must admit, it was hard to crimp when I first did my panel (manually with a normal crimper)  Some would come loose, so I re-crimped everything using a ratchet crimper which worked wonders!  They never come out now.



D

[RandyT]

I must admit, it was hard to crimp when I first did my panel (manually with a normal crimper)  Some would come loose, so I re-crimped everything using a ratchet crimper which worked wonders!  They never come out now.

Solid or Stranded?  CAT5 seems to come in both varieties.  Solid cable just doesn't take a crimped connector as well as stranded does, so always get stranded if that is the plan.

RandyT

[markronz]

I have a question about wiring also.   After reading this post, I went out in search of 22 gauge wire.  I just bought some cable at Home Depot last night that's similar to this:

http://alarmsuperstore.com/zen-cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=117_122&products_id=858

It was labeled "security cable" and 22-2 stranded.   I guess this means 22 gauge wire, 2 stranded, right?  So I assume this means that I can de-case the bigger wire, and use the two individual wires that are within in to wire up my controls right?

Also, about quick disconnects, is there a recommended size for these?  Like is there one that is going to crimp easier onto 22 gauge wire?  Or will I just have to possibly fold the cable over once so that it fits better inside of the qd?   Also any special tricks to this?  Or is it as simple as jamming it in there and crimping it?

Thanks!   

[ragnar]

A 75 foot roll of 20 gauge twisted wire costs $6 at Radio Shack.  This is not overly complex wiring.  I'd just take my time and keep things neat and wiring will not be an issue.

If concerend, just consider adding tape to each wire end and labeling the wire via the tape based flag.  Masking tape does a fine job of this.  That way, you know what goes where.  Not as nice looking but the box innards are not commonly visible.

[MikeDeuce]

Are there any hobbyist electricians on staff to set me straight with current carrying wire sizes?

I'm thinking more along the lines of powering masses of LEDs, now that we have the luxury of all these LED/output controller boards. In the past, I've always gone the overkill route to play it safe (18-20awg) but I've been considering the use of stranded 24awg cat5e cable.

In referencing the chart here: http://www.interfacebus.com/Copper_Wire_AWG_SIze.html

I'm reading it as though 24awg is capable of carrying 577mA... which is confirmed here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable#Characteristics

Am I correct then, in concluding that even with RGB LEDs that consume a max of ~60mA, that 24awg is grossly overkill?

[DillonFoulds]

Until someone more educated chimes in...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_over_Ethernet#Standard_implementation

[padstack]

Are there any hobbyist electricians on staff to set me straight with current carrying wire sizes?

I'm thinking more along the lines of powering masses of LEDs, now that we have the luxury of all these LED/output controller boards. In the past, I've always gone the overkill route to play it safe (18-20awg) but I've been considering the use of stranded 24awg cat5e cable.

In referencing the chart here: http://www.interfacebus.com/Copper_Wire_AWG_SIze.html

I'm reading it as though 24awg is capable of carrying 577mA... which is confirmed here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable#Characteristics


Am I correct then, in concluding that even with RGB LEDs that consume a max of ~60mA, that 24awg is grossly overkill?

I would think so.  Here's a link to a catalog page from the company I work for:

http://www.peigenesis.com/images/content/cannon/CSG/KJA/itt-cannon-kja-mil-dtl-38999-series-III-description-applications-technical-specifications-pgs191-193.pdf

(and no, I'm not trying to sell anything.  Quite honestly, you'd be crazy to use this stuff in this hobby as a mated pair of 38999's would probably cost more than most of the hardware in your system!  LOL!)

Scroll down to page two for the current ratings.

Basically, you have to consider both the wire and the contact.  Anything under an amp is nothing.  As mentioned before, if you use something too small for the rated contact, you might as well solder it as a crimp won't be very good quality.  A roll of 16 or 18AWG wire isn't that expensive when comparing  the hassle of troubleshooting bad connections.  Cat5 will work (I've used plenty of it myself), but IMO unless you have the proper tooling and terminals you could be asking for trouble (especially if you've never messed with this stuff before).  Typically, even crappy tooling is more expensive than the roll of 18AWG wire.

I'd pick up a cheap crimp tool, some 1/4" fast-on terminals, and a spool of 18 or 18AWG wire from harbor freight and save yourself any hassle.

Just my $0.02.