A couple of years ago I made my own MU cables for my Aristo RS-3 using the pin sockets from an old computer connector and some heat shrink tubing. They work well, but because they are two individual sockets, not a female 2-pin plug, they can be difficult to hook up. Christmas week, when I was plowing, a derailment separated the MU cable on my plow train and it was a bit of a problem getting it connected again at ground level in the snow. I decided that I would look around to see if I could buy a cable with the proper connectors. Aristo sells one, ART-29607 for $9.00 each from the On-Line Store.
Since I need 4 of them, I thought I’d look a little further before spending $36 + shipping. I remembered that All Electronics was said to carry a compatible connector. Their CON-240 at $1.20 ea. (10-99) is a male/female pair of the same connector, so I ordered up 10 of them last week - $19 delivered.
Version 1 of my home-brew MU cable was two female connectors with the leads trimmed short, soldered together red-to-black, and insulated with heat shrink tubing. It doesn’t look pretty, but it works. For Version 2, I decided to spend a little more time and remove the sockets from one connector head, remove the leads from the sockets and solder the shortened leads from another connector to them. A length of heat shrink tubing dresses up the cable and makes makes it look less like wires. I was very happy with how version 2 looked, so I made another. I still have parts enough left to make a 4th. I used one of the female ends with leads to put a proper connector on my battery car. This leaves me with 10 male ends to use up. I’m thinking my Dizzies and perhaps even the Connie might get fitted for trail-car operation.