Wiring questions

[OC_Ryan]

Alright everyone, so I just got my buttons and joysticks today. 

But... I'm definitely new when it comes to wiring. I tried poking around and found a couple of helpful questions/answers, but I still have some of my own.

So, per some people's advice, I took one of my cat5 cables sitting around the house, and pulled it apart. Most people said to use 20 or 22 gauge wiring, and I saw a couple of posts claiming that the wiring for cat5 cables is 22 gauge, but on the side of my cat5 cable it says "24awg/4p". After reading that, I'm worried this wiring is 24 gauge and not 22, which somehow might screw something up.

As far as the number of wires inside the cable, if I untangle all of them, it comes out to 8 total wires, but, there are 4 different colors, and it looks as if I shouldn't be untangling the separate colors into two wires.

Lastly, can I use this wiring for both buttons and joysticks? What is the standard gauge when it comes to power buttons vs. push buttons vs. joysticks, etc.

Thanks all!   

I hope somebody can answer me tonight, I'm so excited I may pull an all nighter to work on this thing.

[MonMotha]

For signal wiring (buttons, joysticks, etc.), AWG24 is just fine.  AWG22 is commonly used because it crimps into quick connect contacts a little nicer.  My biggest concern with using CAT5 for wiring like this is that the wire is usually solid.  Solid wire will eventually break when flexed repeatedly.  "Classical" arcade cab wiring is stranded AWG22 because it tends to hold up better.  CAT 5 is also actually kinda expensive cable, but if you've already got it, then it's free for you

If you have trouble getting crimp connectors to stay on your small wire, you can often double it up (fold it back on itself), and then it'll hold.  Again, I still prefer to just use AWG22 stranded.

For power wiring, you want at least AWG20.  AWG18 is better.  Don't use your CAT5 stuff to wire up power lines to JAMMA, coin door lamps, etc.

[OC_Ryan]

Gotcha, thanks for the quick reply!

One of my main questions though, does it sound right that one cat5 cable is coming apart into 8 different individual wires?

Oh, and also, this is kind of a side question, what size hole needs to be drilled for the super joystick from happ? I'm guessing the same size as the buttons, 1-1/8", but I can't find anything on their website or the product that lists the hole size.

Thanks! 

[smalltownguy]

Cat 5 cable should have 8 wires.

The Wikipedia entry does a good job explaining the colors and what the wires each do.