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by **Canuck_in_TX** on Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:59 am

I know this topic has been mentioned before in the MSN forum but I couldn't find the posting. I am hoping to get some input from others who have rewired their traffic signal using Radio Daze's http://www.radiodaze.com/wire-cloth_covered.htmcloth covered wire.

As some of you know I have a Harrington-Seaberg 4-Way signal that I am restoring. I want to keep it as nostalgic looking as possible and that includes the wiring inside. The current wiring looks a little suspect and figured I'd better be safe and rewire it. A couple collectors recommend Radio Daze for cloth wiring - my question to those knowledgeable with signals & electricity is which type of wiring should I order? (Gauge, etc.)

Also, I am guessing that this "modern" cloth wire is safe and not like the cloth-wire of yesterday?

by **gwlreno** on Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:38 pm

My own personal preference is the wire from Rhode Island Wire (www.riwire.com). The reason is that they also have white wire with the appropriate color tracer on it for the neutral. I use their #16 stranded wire and am most pleased with it.

by **LarryC39** on Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:22 pm

Is the 'island stuff laquered onto the plastic wire? IE can I slide the jacket or is it pretty firm/doesn't fray out? the nice thing on the RD stuff is that the jackets are glued togheter, no sliding and no fraying.

by **gwlreno** on Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:32 am

RI wire and Radio Daze wire are virtually identical in those respects you question. I've had no problem at all with them fraying or the cloth insulation pulling back.

by **jason_b1980** on Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:09 pm

I haven't tried the Radio Daze stuff, but the tracer patterns, and colors of the Rhode Island wire is a perfect match to the original wire. I used 14GA, but I think 16GA is what the original was.

This wire is laquered cloth bonded to a PVC jacketed, stranded copper core. It has the old, original look, but uses modern technology. The 14GA is pretty stiff, but if you use the correct 16GA, it should be more flexible.

by **Nevada Willis** on Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:02 am

The cloth wire I got from Radio Daze is great but it has solid colors on the fabric outer jackets. Some signals use white wiring that have color tracers to distinguish between the leads. In looking at their site, Rhode Island wire sure has some close matches to those original white with tracer patterns. Thanks for the tip on them. Wow! Now I'm suffering from wire envy.

I use mostly 14 gauge as I find that it's easier for me to work with with my beat up clumsy hands. However 16 gauge or even 18 gauge should be more than sufficient to light a single bulb as 18 ga. is rated to handle about 250 watts.

by **gwlreno** on Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:10 am

Hey Willis,

If you'd like to stop by sometime, I can show you some of the RI wire. I think you'll like it.

by **Canuck_in_TX** on Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:16 pm

Thanks for the input.

When the time comes, I'm gonna have to order some of that wire now that I have an idea of what I'm looking for.

:good:

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