Where to buy many colors of stranded cable

[Psi]

I'm working on a project and require about 16 different color signal cables.
It's for a device that will be installed into a car.

The cable thickness isn't too much of an issue as it's just for reading sensors but it does need to be thick enough to withstand general automotive wear and tear.
Maybe 1.6-2.5mm diameter total with a 0.7-1.5mm stranded conductor would be fine.

The main issue i'm having is colors.
Each wire needs to be identifiable and there's only 8 or so common wire colors.
I think what i need is wire that has a colored stripe on the side. Like green with purple strip etc.. As this would expand the possible colors.

However finding reasonably priced reels of that sort of stuff is proving hard.
Does anyone know where i could find some?
I don't mine if i have to buy from china, as long as the quality isn't rubbish.
50M reels would be ideal.

[mariush]

You mean something like this?

http://uk.farnell.com/3m/3302-16/ribbon-cable-16way-30-5m/dp/1166717
http://uk.farnell.com/amphenol-spectra-strip/132-2801-016/ribbon-cable-16way-30-5m/dp/1170258

It's 10 colors and since there are 16 wires the colors are different at the ends.

later edit: 

maybe some this would also work for you?  http://uk.farnell.com/3m/3782-08p-270a/ribbon-cable-8-pair-per-m/dp/2064528   

It's 8 pairs, each pair having a white wire next to it.

[Psi]

Yeah, i had though or ribbon cable but it's far to week and thin.  This is for the user to wire up the tacho, speed sensor, handbrake, footbrake, etc..

Also separating it all would be annoying.

Really has to be bigger than 24AWG, even that is a bit small.

[G7PSK]

There is a reason why cars have specially made wiring harness and one of them is to get the right number of cores in the correct colour's. What you could do is use two pieces of multi core trailer light cable this usually comes in 7 & 10 core versions 7 core is used on car trailers and cross chassis on commercial trailers while ten core is used as the main on commercial trailers.

This company has 8 core and 12 core as well.

  http://www.maypole.ltd.uk/index.php?webpage=store.php&cID=18305

Using trailer wire will most likely be your best bet as it is made for the rigors of the road.

[mikeselectricstuff]

For lots of colours in moderate lengths, buying multicore and stripping it is one option

[Uncle Vernon]

Your more likely looking at 100M reels

Try

GENERAL CABLE NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
75 – 89 Main South Road
Riccarton, Christchurch
PO Box 8044, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand
Phone: 0800 CABLES (0800 222 537)
FAX: 0800 242 267
EMAIL: sales@generalcable.co.nz

http://www.generalcable.co.nz/getattachment/f52b11cd-98c6-475b-953e-5dce0101f728

[Psi]

Stripping multi-core cable is an option, but time consuming as the project is to be sold and there could be many orders.

[Psi]

Your more likely looking at 100M reels
Try
GENERAL CABLE NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
.....

Thanks

[metalphreak]

Thread from overclockers australia had a few recommendations: http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=987027

[Short Circuit]

Here's a link to get the search started at Farnell:
http://nl.farnell.com/pro-power/mc6a-16-0-2t2-werd-100/wire-white-red-16-0-2mm-100m/dp/1172946

[T4P]

RS. Many many many colours! PVC though 
http://singapore.rs-online.com/web/p/products/0361579/

[metalphreak]

Problem is, there are only so many colours in the spectrum! Most will do maybe 10 or 12 solid colours. If you need any more than that you need colours with marker stripes (themselves a unique colour). If you have a look at the wiring loom in most cars, there's 30+ cables in some of them, and they just use different coloured stripe/solid combos. It's such a niche requirement though that not many places stock or sell it.

The other option is to mark the cable yourself with a permanent marker. That doubles the number of cable colours (stripe/no stripe)

[G7PSK]

Try your loal automotive electrical service store  or agent also truck parts stores they will carry multi core cable for trailer lights, they will also carry wire with stripes as well as solid colour. They will also sell by the cut length so you wont have to buy a whole reel.

[T4P]

RS sells those cables with varying striped colours ...

[Psi]

RS. Many many many colours! PVC though 
http://singapore.rs-online.com/web/p/products/0361579/

They only have 7 colors, so not really "many many colors"

[FenderBender]

Seeing you are in NZ, I think this would not be the most cost effective solution, but I buy all of my wire from AWC (Allied Wire and Cable) http://www.awcwire.com/Default.aspx. I like them because they have this "bargain bin" system where they sell partially used reels of wire at a discounted price. Usually instead of a full 500ft or 1000ft, you get like 197ft or some weird number. And it's a very good discount. Their standard prices aren't bad either.

They also do custom cables: http://www.awcwire.com/Custom-Cables-Design.aspx

You could see if they could have it made for you. Depends on how much volume you plan on selling. If not much, then custom would probably not be the wisest decision.

[westfw]

The telco industry has well established color coding systems for multiconductor cable.  I don't know if there's anything in between 8-wire CAT5 style cable and 25-pair "trunk" cables, though.
I'd be really inclined to run two 8-conductor CAT5 cables with different jacket colors...

[Psi]

Seeing you are in NZ, I think this would not be the most cost effective solution, but I buy all of my wire from AWC (Allied Wire and Cable) http://www.awcwire.com/Default.aspx. I like them because they have this "bargain bin" system where they sell partially used reels of wire at a discounted price. Usually instead of a full 500ft or 1000ft, you get like 197ft or some weird number. And it's a very good discount. Their standard prices aren't bad either.

They also do custom cables: http://www.awcwire.com/Custom-Cables-Design.aspx

You could see if they could have it made for you. Depends on how much volume you plan on selling. If not much, then custom would probably not be the wisest decision.

Thanks, that company sells lots of multi-core cable that i could strip back to get what i need.
I've put in a RFQ to see how much they want for it in various quantities.