16-20 Wire Plug Connectors

Hello Everyone,

I have a removable portion of my layout that has 8 light circuits running to it.

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a 16 to 20 wire plug connector to make it a lot easier to remove.

Thanks,
Denis

 

Hi Denis,

I have had a lot of experience and seen excellent results with Tyco TE / AMP series 1 connectors with gold plated pins. They come in various sizes and I've used mostly the 9 pin and 16 pin versions suitable for 16-18 gauge wire. If you are using this just for lighting there are also tin plated pins which are less costly. Another type of connector I have seen used successfully are the old parallel printer connectors which have I think something like 50 pins. You need to solder the wires to those and I think 22 gauge would be the largest wire you could use on those.

 

I'm currently using a 25 pair parallel connector on a HCD layout control panel build. The one I'm using had approximately 18" push in wires already installed. I don't know if a special tool is required to seat the wires.

I don't know the amperage rating of the contacts or wire. I just used a pair of 22ga wires and contacts for each 18 ga feeder wire.

I only plan on running two DC N scale locos at a time.

 

Thanks all, I was thinking of a computer ribbon cable but it’s hard to find male to female. Most of them are female to female.

I’ll look into these suggestions.

Denis