Members Mike LX-R Posted January 12, 2012 Members Share Posted January 12, 2012 Hello my name is Mike and I'm an electronic newbie:wave:... (hi mike.....) I'm starting to learn about building effects (DIY clone kits and such) and basic electronics. One of the things I'd like some help with is knowing the correct types and gauges of wires I'll need for building and mod work. If someone could enlighten me in this particular topic I would appreciate that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted January 12, 2012 Members Share Posted January 12, 2012 Well theres not a whole lot to it. Wire types are based on the voltage/current types, types of signals they carry, and weather the wire needs to be flexable, durable, high temp etc. For audio work, working inside a shielded chassis, the wires dont normally need to be shieldedwithin that chassis. Externally, signal bearing wires need shielding like the components in an amp do so they dontact like antennas and pick up external magnetic radio waves. They also need to be strong, quiet, oxygen free and durableif they are something thats going to be moved around allot like a guitar or mic cord. (oxygen tarnishes copper and multistrand wires can become noisy when they flex if the copper tarnishes the strands) Electrically, low resistnce, low capacitence and high shielding percentage makes them shield well from electrical noise and conduct the maximum signal. Inside an amp or effects box, the wires dont need to be flexable in many cases. Solid core wire can be used. AC wires are often going to be heavier stranded 14 gauge wires capible of 15 amps in a tube amplifier. Wire gauges work in reverse. 0 gauge is the thickest and the wire gets thinner as you go up in gauge. 30 gauge may be small strands. you can add many small strands to be an equivilant of a 0 gauge for example.stranded wire can be deceiving in that way. Stranded wire current capibilities will depend on the thickness and numberof strands in the bundle. The type of metal will be importnat too. Copper is a good conductor and is fairly cheap. Gold , Silver and Platinum are better but they cost allot. Other metals conduct fairly good including iron zinc lead steel. The poorer the conductor the more resistance to the current and the hotter the wire can become. Heres an example of AC bearing wire based on amps per foot and the gauges needed to safely carry the current. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=wire+color+codes&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1413&bih=746&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=60QNzTEQk2tF8M:&imgrefurl=http://www.hondaaccordforum.com/forum/audio-visual-electronics-10/basic-cd-player-radio-installation-32429/&docid=J2o1lwdjfqFqPM&imgurl=http://74.50.20.110/wiringdiagram.jpg&w=633&h=441&ei=n0QPT6HBMeXq0gHvuI22Aw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=366&vpy=423&dur=110&hovh=187&hovw=269&tx=156&ty=96&sig=104802568827377109840&page=1&tbnh=118&tbnw=169&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0 Some metals conduct well like alluminum and iron, but alluminum cant be soldered, only welded, and iron rusts making electricalconnections fail. Then you have some metals that have chemical and electrolytic reactions causing the soldered connections fail. In general for electronic projects, in low voltage applications you just need some hookup wire. You can buy it at electronics outlets on a spool or by the foot. You can byt light medium and heavy and also get different colors making voltages easily identifyable. Wires are often color coded. What voltage thay carry depends on the industry. Some wire colors attempt to be universal. Green tends to be ground, or heater filiments in tube gearWhite AC wires tend to be Neutral and black or brown hot. Something like tube amps may use these color codes. http://www.logwell.com/tech/shdwe/surface_wiring.html Heres a whole bunch of color charts.http://www.google.com/search?q=wire+color+codes&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=jkQPT63PC4n20gGk9MC6Aw&sqi=2&ved=0CD4QsAQ&biw=1413&bih=746 Telephone gets really crazy with all their striped colors. Solid state stuff uses a whole different set of color codes for DC voltages. Transformers are all over the place. They are pretty much different between companies and need a color code chart or testing under operating conditions to figure out/ Diameter is usually based on current as I mentioned. For guitar boxes running9vdc there isnt a whole lot of current and the components are small so you can use fairly snalldiameter hookup wire. If they carry a signal you nay want to go a little larger for less signal loss. but in say a distortion box, there may be a total of one foot of wire. You really need 20 feet forthe wire to have noticable resistance losses and have it start to reduce signal strength so not muchis gained by using heavier wire than needed. 26 gauge wire can be used for most guitar box projects. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=hookup+wire&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1413&bih=746&wrapid=tljp1326402140463224&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=10732191522018862903&sa=X&ei=ckoPT4aqFIzxggf33oTXAw&sqi=2&ved=0CHwQ8wIwAg# This wires a bit heavier having a 16 gauge core. I'm guessing ihs insulation isnt very good cause its only rated for 300Vhttp://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=hookup+wire&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1413&bih=746&wrapid=tljp1326402140463224&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=11755623353857073743&sa=X&ei=ckoPT4aqFIzxggf33oTXAw&sqi=2&ved=0CHkQ8gIwAQ# Heres some more of the same stuff rated for 300v.http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=hookup+wire&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1413&bih=746&wrapid=tljp1326402140463224&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=13378121034666409420&sa=X&ei=ckoPT4aqFIzxggf33oTXAw&sqi=2&ved=0CIcBEPICMAU# Heres bus wire good for multiple low voltage grounds or low voltage jumping traces, or PC board work where shielding isnt needed. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102500 This wire can handle most High voltage tube amp apps up to 600v. 12 gauge is pretty thick stuff. I'd likely go a bit heavier for high voltage tube apps and make sure it can handle high tempshttp://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062646 Teflon coatings are usually used for high temp and thay may even use stainlesssteel wire for some high temp situations like heaters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike LX-R Posted January 12, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 12, 2012 Very informative. Thank you so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike LX-R Posted January 12, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 12, 2012 Very informative. Thank you so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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