Would using cat 5 cable to wire up my CP be a bad idea?

[Locke141]

Cross posted to my build. (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134515.0.html)

I was thinking about using cat 5 cables to wire up my 4 player pedestal CP. Colors would be matched to the color of each player.
I was thinking it would be a nice and easy way to keep the wires clean.

Is this a bad idea? Has any one tried using cat5 to an i-pac before?

I originally got the idea from (http://www.beersmith.com/mame/panels.htm)

The pic is from the above web site and is not mine. I just included it for some context.



     

[yotsuya]

I did that when I was going to build swappable panels. It works.

[blashyrk]

I use cat-5 cable for my cp, never had any trouble.

[michelevit]

works great.
gets you 8 wires.
ez to connect, low cost. i recommend highly.
if you need more than 8 wires, just add another run and label accordingly. 
cat5 is great for signal but can carry 600mA of current.

[WindDrake]

Cat5/6 wire is great for hookups. I end up using various chunks of it and pulling pairs out when building prototypes/etc as it's cheap and easy.

[UFO]

  that's handy to know!

[lilshawn]

if you do go the cat5 route, i would recommend going with stranded core wire. be aware cat5/6 cable comes in 2 varieties, solid core and stranded core.

stranded core is usually used when making patch cables because they always get flexed and plugged and unplugged and whatnot... stranded core wire flexes better without breaking.

solid core is used in plenums, roofs, and walls. basically where it's going to get laid and then never be touched again. if you end up using solid core when making patch cables, after a while they stop working because the copper wire breaks.

[Locke141]

Thanks guys,

I have lots of stranded core cat 5 and am looking forward to my adventures in soldering.