Wiring for C-Band actuator

[rrob311]

I am in the process of setting up my 1st motorized C-Band dish and need a source/ideas on what I can use to wire the actuator to the receiver. I have a few 2 foot sections of wire but I need like 50' or so. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[turbosat]

I"m not up to snuff on wire guage, but if you don't want to buy that regular ribbon cable you can purchase something that would work. For that short distance I mean.
Wire is expensive , so it may be smart to check prices of ribbon cable before you try buying 100' of 12guage stranded wire, you'll need the thicker wire for the DC to the motor. I have used
sprinkler wire for the sensor wiring, some actuators work with just 2 wires for the sensor, and others need 3 (sensor, 5volt and a ground). Building supply stores usually have plenty of sprinkler wire and it will be much smaller guage than the DC wires.

 

[Kraven]

" I have used sprinkler wire for the sensor wiring, some actuators work with just 2 wires for the sensor, and others need 3 (sensor, 5volt and a ground). Building supply stores usually have plenty of sprinkler wire and it will be much smaller guage than the DC wires"


I did check out Home Depot for sprinkler wiring for the actuator. The set w/ 4 wires was 44$ for 75feet IIRC. The 7 wire set was almost double in price.

Cheers, K

 

[T4Runner]

I have used the four wire sprinkler wire on both my c band dishes. One is 50 ft, the other is 100 ft. Works fine.

 

[radio]

seconded! That's good wire for C-band use!

 

[johann12]

I used a shielded 6 conductor 18 gauge wire for an 60 foot run and this works good for me. I had this stored in my building ,so I used it.
2 wires for motor and 2 wires for the sensor. That will give me extra wire for the future if needed.

 

[primestar31]

I used the 7 wire Home depot underground sprinkler wire. 4 wires (doubled) for power, and 2 for the sensor. That leaves a single wire left over for something else to be determined. Works perfectly at 100 feet.

 

[Blindowl1234]

I priced sprinkler wire and it was expensive here. I went with 4 conductor telephone wire. Think I got a 50 or 100 foot roll at one of the big box stores or Rat Shack. It's the solid conductor stuff. I buried it in pvc and it's been there three years no problem.

 

[Lone Cloud]

I know the primary line to the lnb has a solid copper wire in it, and can therefore take quite a bit of movement without breaking, but that made me a little nervous where sprinkller cable was concerned.

Like others here, I use 4 wire sprinkler cable. When I first got it, (by the way I decided on it without the benefit of any advice) I reasoned that sprinkler wire isn't designed to move. I therefore put a junction box in, and the last twelve feet of wire I used stranded appliance cord. The other guys using sprinkler wire are apparently getting away without any stranded wire, but it's what I used.

 

[Magic Static]

I went cheap. I bought 100' roll of in wall speaker cable 4x14 stranded from MonoPrice

 

[rrob311]

I went cheap. I bought 100' roll of in wall speaker cable 4x14 stranded from MonoPrice

Did you use 2 lengths or so of the cable so you could get enough wires?

 

[Magic Static]

Did you use 2 lengths or so of the cable so you could get enough wires?

2 motor wires and 2 sensor wires, 4 is all you need. the cable is 4 strands of 14 gauge wire