Wire gets thicker, as the gauge number gets smaller.

So 18 gauge is thicker than 22 gauge.

There are two sizes of insulation displacement connector commonly used in Bally/Williams games for board header connections: 0.156 inch and 0.100 inch. The two sizes are available in different varieties to accommodate different gauges of wire. The connector has a colored stripe to indicate the appropriate wire gauge: orange for 18 gauge, brown for 20 gauge, red for 22 gauge, black for 24 gauge, blue for 26 gauge, and green for 28 gauge.

The thicker wire on Bally/Williams games is typically 18 gauge while the thinner wire is typically 22 gauge.

The 0.100 connectors do not accept any wires larger than 22 gauge, so you can order just that single version (red stripe); the 0.156 connectors are either 22 gauge (red stripe) or 18 gauge (orange stripe) so you have to order the version appropriate for the wire used.

Great info here. What I was looking for. Thanks!

as a add-on question, where is a good place to buy wire? I'd like to find some better variety of colors, and maybe even find some two-color wire similar to what is found in our pins.

I have bought old pinball wiring harness lots off of ebay before..........

Bay Area Amusements sells a large variety of insulated wire (18 and 22 gauge) in the color combinations (both solid and striped) Williams used in the WPC-era games.

thanks. exactly what I was looking for.

Has any one used a tool like this to do IDC .100 or .156 punchdowns (I need to redo a .100 on the connectors for the TZ Clock)?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-Impact-Punch-Down-Tool-with-110-blade-CE70804/202039354?MERCH=REC-_-rv_gm_pip_rr-_-202039354-_-202039354-_-N

The only option I see on the pinball sites is the handtool like this one
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The tool you have linked is not suitable. Just get the one you see on the pinball sites. It is no problem at all to push in low volumes of IDC connections with a hand pusher.

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Thanks for the advice Time Bandit!!! Much appreciated!

Although I was just rereading your question and it may have been the sizing that you were pointing out. Yes, you need to check that you are getting the 0.100 version. Most available seem to always be the .156.

You can go directly to TE Connectivity and check model numbers etc of tools there.