What kind of cable is best?

[Nightfalls]

What kind of cable is best for soldering and using in a control panel: that with several thin cables or that with just on thin cable? Maybe the later is not enough and overheat too much or can burn? Or the thiner the better?

[Lilwolf]

I wouldn't worry about heating up.   VERY little power is sent throught.

but get something flexable (ie, stranded) is VERY nice.

Also, if it gets too thin, then they will not crimp on the disconnects well.

I got 500 feet of boundry wire to replace the crap cat5 cables I was using before... and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

also, don't solder... crimp.  It will make the whole experience a better one..

[shmokes]

Well...Oscar has kind of raised the bar.  Multiconductor cable is the way to go.  I would use this myself if I hadn't already bought all the cable I will need (even then I might talk myself into eating the cost and picking up some of this multiconductor).

It's a single cable with multiple separate cables running through it, but unlike CAT5 cable the wires inside are stranded rather than solid making them more flexible and less prone to breaking.  Don't use CAT5.  You'll regret it.

Here's a picture of Oscar's wiring job with multiconductor cable:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=6545;start=msg45941

Remember, this isn't one of those things where someone raises the bar by doing something extra complicated and difficult.  This stuff will make your wire runs much less complicated.  It also looks much nicer and should make troubleshooting problems in the future far easier since you won't have a rat's nest to sort through to find problems.

[Les]

I used 24 AWG stranded.  It's absolutley fab J/K

Seriously for the button connections I would get 22-24 gauge wire and make sure it is STRANDED, NOT soild core copper.  I find these gauge wires run 5v power well also, so don't worry about hooking up your Opti-pac with these gauge wires.

Also consider colors.  I got 100' of 6 diffrent colored wires.  This makes tracing the path of each connection SO much easier.  Plus it makes it look professional.  You can strand them together using cable ties.

As for wire that can run higher voltage you might want to ask a qualified electrican on what is suitable.