Ptt Wiring Conundrum

[fiveboy]

Guys,

I am installing a new joystick. Along with it I am intalling a nice new handgrip that comes with a PTT button on the top (easy thumb reach). Heres my dilemma:

The new PTT switch has two terminals. The old one that I removed has four wires. There is a Red, White, a loose copper that wraps around the White and a Black.

On the original PTT they are all wires into the switch separately - with the White and copper on one side and the Red and Black on the other. Now heres the tough part:

I tried all combinations and the TX indicator comes on when I touch any of the colored wires to the raw copper (which I thought was maybe a sheilding but apparently isn't).

I am running two comtronics helmets patched through a "Dual Comm" box that allows me to speak to my passenger. The PTT is going to an old Icom A20.

Do I solder all three colored wires on one terminal of the new switch and the raw copper to the other - or do I just pick one of the colored and the raw and leave it at that?

I didnt test the TX because I didnt want to make a pointless transmission - but the TX def lights up which tells me its working. I can hear the other aircaft fine I just need to know what the wiring for TX should be.

What to do!??!

Thanks

Rob

[RayPierce]

I would think the bare cooper wire is the shield for the microphone wires.
The unshielded wire would be for the headphones (speakers) with the shield as the common back to the radio.
The other two shielded wires would go to a switch contact of their own.
Are you saying you have a unshielded as well as shielded white wire?
If so then the unshielded wire most likely is the return for the headphones instead of the copper shielding.
Sometimes grounding the copper shielding on both ends will produce undesirable results.
If you have two white wires I would make sure the bare copper shielding is insulated from the others.

You didn't mention what radio and what headset you have.
Someone would have the schematic I bet if we knew what model you have.

[fiveboy]

I did mention them but happy to again:

I am running two comtronics helmets patched through a "Dual Comm" box that allows me to speak to my passenger. The PTT is going to an old Icom A20.

I have one unshielded copper wire.
One White insulate wire
One Red insulated wire
One Black insulated wire.

Any and all of the insulated wires - when touched against the bare unshielded copper - make the TX indicator show up.

Nothing else causes that to happen. Im stymied.

[RayPierce]

I did mention them but happy to again:

I am running two comtronics helmets patched through a "Dual Comm" box that allows me to speak to my passenger. The PTT is going to an old Icom A20.

I have one unshielded copper wire.
One White insulate wire
One Red insulated wire
One Black insulated wire.

Any and all of the insulated wires - when touched against the bare unshielded copper - make the TX indicator show up.

Nothing else causes that to happen. Im stymied.

Yes you did mention them.
I have CRS old fart disease.

I can't help you with the intercom interface. Is there a aviation radio shop near you? I would suggest one.
I don't believe your "new" switch will work since it has two systems ..the radio and the intercom.
In both cases the microphones are used.