Keep Alive for Paragon 3 sound decoder?

[jdcolombo]

Hi Otto.

The connector I think is a .8mm pitch SUR series JST connector, but I have not found a source for them in small quantities.

FWIW I used a very-sharp point jewelers tweezers to remove the wire for my test, and then used that same tweezers to put in a new wire. 

John C.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks John, I appreciate the suggestions.
I do believe we have the same (Santa Fe) tender, except mine has a removable oil tank. I chose to keep the sloping fuel sheet to keep the tender shell rigid, but removed the little dog leg and screw. The cavity inside the fuel bunker becomes the speaker enclosure, the screw hole speaker wire access. My oil bunker press-fits over the top, I don’t think the screw is needed. I think I figured out how to make it all fit without removing the slope sheet, but like the dental burr idea for future use. A source would be helpful.
I’m not familiar with Aline IDC’s. These BLI ones do appear to have .8mm pitch, and like you, I can’t find a source for just a few.
What size wire were you using to test reinstallation on these? The bits of wire left in have a .4 mm diameter, including insulation. My #30 wire is .6mm. That could be a part of my problem...
Otto

PS: What’s a Nickel Plate guy doing with a Santa Fe Hudson? You should start a thread on putting DCC/sound in it...this started as a keep-alive for Paragon 3.

[woodone]

For the Dental burs, go to e-bay- search dental burs- Take a look see.
here is one  https://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-set-High-Speed-Dental-Tungsten-Steel-Crown-Metal-Cutting-Burs/383318232279?epid=8034764435&hash=item593f8c0cd7:g:ec8AAOSwZ7lZ5Eiq

and  https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beavers-Kerr-Dental-Midwest-FG-34-Short-Shank-Inverted-Cone-Carbide-Burs-100-Pk/233360065930?hash=item365558058a:g:T7AAAOSwtbZdl4GC

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks @woodone !
Otto K.

[jdcolombo]

What size wire were you using to test reinstallation on these? The bits of wire left in have a .4 mm diameter, including insulation. My #30 wire is .6mm. That could be a part of my problem...
Otto

PS: What’s a Nickel Plate guy doing with a Santa Fe Hudson? You should start a thread on putting DCC/sound in it...this started as a keep-alive for Paragon 3.

Hi Otto.

I was using ESU's decoder wire, which is 36-gauge.  It would be considerably smaller than 30-gauge.  The JST web site indicates that the connector will take anything from 32 gauge to 36 gauge.

http://www.jst.com/home8.html

John C.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thank you for that info, John.
But now I’m confused...I don’t see IDC’s like the ones the come with the P3 on the JST website... can you please clarify?
Otto

[jdcolombo]

Thank you for that info, John.
But now I’m confused...I don’t see IDC’s like the ones the come with the P3 on the JST website... can you please clarify?
Otto

Well, I thought I had copied the link to the JST SUR data page, but apparently that's not possible via their search engine.  SO . . . go to the page linked in my post, which is the index page, and then click on SUR Connector.  That will take you to the main SUR data page.

And I just realized that there is a shopping option.  You can buy 8-pin plugs in quantities of 10 for 80 yen each - that's about 75 cents each.  If you click on "Shopping Site" at the bottom of the data page and then scroll down until you see "08SUR-32S" I think this is what you want.  Note the "I think" part - I'm not sure this is in fact the connector on the decoder board, but the specs seem to match up to measurements I took.  Click on the "Further Information" PDF from the general data page and you'll get the measurement specs.

John C.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks John. I guess I’ll have to join their club to order anything...
Otto