Wiring multi pin plugs and sockets

Hi. All     With my latest wiring project, multi pin plug and socket, I have found it reasonably easy to solder plugs and sockets ? But to ensure that I don't get a short on my wiring, I am looking to fit "heat shrink tubing" on the very "fine"wire that is required with the small pins. The plug and socket are "d type" with 15 connections similar to the scart connections used on televisions. Does anyone know where I can purchase suiable tubing to do the job ? Please advise.   All the best Kevin 

If you keep your stripped wire very short, you shouldn't need any heatshrink Kevin.  I'm assuming the plugs and sockets have covers………….. :roll:

Hi Petermac. Thank you for your reply. I was being cautious as you probably have experience of these plug/ socket pins with their "buckets" , I had to reorder the Hood for the plug ( rather strange that the shop stocks 15 pins Plug and Socket, but they had to order a hood for a 9 pin plug. I think I may need new reading glasses or one oh those arrangements worn by the Dentist for close up work, a magnifying glass didn't work very well.   All the best. Kevin

Unless you have 3 hands Kevin, normal magnifying glasses are a waste of space when soldering ……………..you need both hands for the job itself.

Get yourself a set of headband magnifiers.

Hi Petermac      Thank you, is that what the dentist wears? And which is the best one to go for?My hands free magnifier third hand gadget looked such a good idea, at least the crocodile clips hold small objects steady, but blu tack works well anyway.  All the best Kevin

Hi Kevin,

If you want to use heat shrink check the wiring gauge, as it comes in various diameters - over here 1/32" to 2" or more. I try and keep a stock of red, black, orange and grey, plus transparent, in 1/32" to 1/8". I buy it in yard lengths. It comes in various shrink ratios, 2:1 is the most common (50%). Which is why you have to match the diameter to the diameter of the wire. Plenty of choice on Amazon or eebygum. I use the large diameter for decoder sleeves. Technical stuff, but important, as having loose heat shrink after shrinking is not good.

I occasionally solder up 8-pin DCC plugs, the trick here is to only expose a short section of wire and use that third hand to hold the plug and the wire. The heat of the solder will take the insulation back by a fair bit. Heat shrink is only used here to cover all the connections at once as a sleeve.

To see what you are doing get a lit magnifying lamp - I have one of these (with 2 clamps), which has a magnifying lens (2x  and 5x), helping hands and a soldering iron sleeve


And one of these which clamps on the table (x2), which I use for kit building


And one of these which sits on the table (x2 and a small inset x5) for small projects



And one of these for really close-up work (x5 with diopter adjustment, important of you wear glasses) - decoders, sockets, motors, surface mount LEDs, i.e the small stuff. If you use one of these you really need a helping hand.



Nigel


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Hi  Nigel. Thank you for your reply.    The wire I'm using is supplied by Expo (www.expotools.com) and sold as "layout wire" 18 /0.1.  whether that is gauge I don't know, but it is very thin. My third hand isn't as quite  elaborate . And. I am a spectacle wearer, the headband magnifiers look rather but if they do the job all well and good.       All the best.  Kevin

I thought you were using  ribbon wire Kevin…………. :roll: :roll:

Hi Petermac. Yes , I think that Max had suggested Ribbon Wire, but, it is getting hold of the stuff and l am an impatient little person, furthermore I had already purchased the wire in question. And I want to get it up and running.Then I can get on with one of my many other projects.  All the best. Kevin

Hi Kevin,

18 strand 0.1mm diameter.

Nigel

Hi Nigel.  Thank you for your reply, but have you got an opinion about the suitability of the layout Wire as described ??For the job in hand??  i.e. Wiring my "Mimic Panel" and forming a cable, with either "heat shrink" or "Cable Ties", or should I find other uses for that wire? Baring in mind that I need that job out of the way so that I can move on?
All the best. Kevin

Hi Kevin,

No opinion. Interesting that it says 18/0.1 but looks to be really 18/0.2 (on the label). Wire diameter/gauge would be dictated by the current required anyway.

Nigel

Hi Nigel     I am not " with you" I can only say what I read on the label. Another strange fact in the instructions with my new " DJ Models class 71 Electric Loco" it says "oil it before you use it" . And there are 4 oiling holes, only 1 or 2 drops with plastic friendly oil.   All the best  Kevin 

Hi Kevin,

I was looking at the web site.

18/0.1 can get confusing. 18 strands for a total of 0.1mm, or 18 strands of 0.1mm.each. The former, makes no sense, that's pretty thin stuff (about 50 gauge), If it's the latter then around 1mm diameter, which is about 18 gauge and ~2.5amp power transmission. Sounds more like it. You'll need 1.5mm heat-shrink or less, see if you can find some 1.5mm and a shrink ratio of 3:1 or 4:1 rather than 2:1. You need to be wider than the wire, soldered leads tend to wider than the individual wires.

I saw those 'oles in the bottom. Interesting way to weather the track. I think I'd cover them up with some heavy duty tape. Running in required as well. Definitely "Old School".

Nigel

Hi Nigel.    Thank you. Model railways certainly have moved on since " Horny Dublo Days", (mind you back then , I had my " Triang TT" 3 mm = 1 ft.) To find the "true".as best as I know, measurement. I went to the toolbox for my micrometer, the outer measurement of the insulation being 39 thou "= 0.9906, and that is without compressing the wire too much, meaning it should be within 1 mm. I hope that reassures you.      All the best.  Kevin

For purchasing of the tubing itself, I either go to Amazon or Ebay. On line sources such as RS, Rapid Electronics, or the like are also a source but you be paying for the middle man.
The ever increasing spread Of Maplins means that that is the only place you might find it locally. But I've stopped using them, as these days I find they are an expensive toy shop.

Hi The Q.  Thank you I will look into that. Kevin

Hi Kevin,

18 gauge then. Perfectly OK for a small layout/plank/shelf, especially if it's a 2 amp NCE system. Not that much voltage drop over 10 feet or so. I wouldn't use this gauge with a Digitrax 5 amp setup (14 or even 12 gauge). It's too big to be a dropper, too small to carry a lot of current.

Nigel

[user=1632]BCDR[/user] wrote:

Hi Kevin,

18 gauge then. Perfectly OK for a small layout/plank/shelf, especially if it's a 2 amp NCE system. Not that much voltage drop over 10 feet or so. I wouldn't use this gauge with a Digitrax 5 amp setup (14 or even 12 gauge). It's too big to be a dropper, too small to carry a lot of current.

Nigel

Hi Nigel.  Thank you for your reply. The wire is only for the LED's that indicate the state of the points/turnouts,  and have their own dedicated circuit and12 volt power supply.    Kevin

Hi Kevin,

1mm/18 gauge wire is probably overkill for dedicated LEDs given their current draw. Easier to work with 22 gauge or even smaller wire. I can see why Max suggested ribbon wire, which at 22 gauge is used for individual LEDs. 18 gauge ribbon is used for LED lighting strips with multiple LEDs.

Nigel