What gauge of wire do you typically use?

[Ptownkid]

I am completely sick of counting pins for connectors that go in my kits and plan on switching to idc.

I am wondering what people typically use as hookup wire with regards to gauge.

Personally, i end up using mostly 24-26

 

[abbey road d enfer]

IDC is really nice for interconnect between PCB's, but you have to be careful with crosstalk. Make sure you have at least one cold wire (DC supply or ground) between two hot wires.

 

[Ptownkid]

60+ views and not a single person has said boo...

 

[wtmnmf]

If you mean for audio interconnect then yes, 24ga or 26ga.  For everything else, it depends, dunnit...

OT: Do you have a progress report on the boards I ordered?  Just checking

 

[livingnote]

Haha you kinda end up with IDC, don't you What's your brand? Mine's Tyco.

 

[craptical]

Use #18 wire for rock-n-roll, #16 wire for classical.

From this thread:
http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=5869.0

 

[Ptownkid]

Haha you kinda end up with IDC, don't you What's your brand? Mine's Tyco.

Same

 

[abbey road d enfer]

60+ views and not a single person has said boo...

It is possible to start a lengthy (and probably eventually heated ) discussion about wires, based on resistance (relevant only when there's power (in fact current) involved, inductance (although it doesn't change much in respect to gauge), capacitance (the thinner the better for minimizing stray capacitance), insulation voltage, and several purely mechanical factors. In view of super fine optimization, a preamp input section should be wired with awg40, the output stage with a thicker gauge and a solid-state power amp with awg10. In practice it turns out that most of the low-level stuff is done with one single gauge, for practicality (this is for audio, RF applications are different).
In Europe, we use mainly 0.22mm² (between #23-24), 0.6mm² (between #19-20) and 1mm² (awg17),because it's available everywhere. Due to regulations, minimum gauge is #17 for mains wiring, with minimum 0.6mm thick insulation.

 

[CJ]

wire?


















































nuff said>

 

[Ptownkid]

Thanks for the replies guys, especially abbey. Some food for thought.

 

[MartyMart]

My wiring seems to be always over engineered !
It's 16 gauge so pretty much 1mm of stranded core, have used it on everything
from valve amps to 9v pedals !!
Helps me when I'm "futzing around" with a circuit and fitting it in a box, thin wire just
shears off when i try it.
one caveat is that i have trouble fitting it into some PCB holes and have to use a 1mm drill bit
to make 'em a bit wider ...... ohh err  missus !!

MM.

 

[abbey road d enfer]

Yes, as I mentioned earlier, mechanical factors are very important in wiring. But 16 gauge for some HiZ stages may be looking for trouble. Stray capacitance is roughly proportional to diameter.

 

[tv]

I rewire almost all of my basses and have used double-insulated 1,5mm PVC wire for installation for my passives. Compared to those tiny coaxials usually used in guitars, twisted pairs of said wire never gave me problems and sounded slightly more "open". Plus, the harness feels truly bulletproof and self-supporting. Some lasted 2 decades ...

However, a fat wire could be more of an antenna...

 

[lassoharp]

I prefer 22ga most of the time for point to point - not too heavy not too light - easiest to work with.  Occasionally will use 20 ga, mostly in power supplies.  24 ga once in a while for light work in smaller spaces.

Another good subject to bring in here is stranded vs solid core.

I always use solid core for filament and xformer wiring - much easier to get a well behaved twisted pair.  Downside is they're very easy to nick if you're using cloth covered types.  PITA.

Stranded for power supply work - I worry less about them breaking.