Tutorial: How to make a "Litz braid".

[size=xx-small]Note: this is a work in progress, I will add more braids soon.
[/size]

[size=small]How to make an Litz Braid cable step by step[/size]

This tutorial will explain step by step how to do different styles of cable braids with 3 and more conductors. There are some websites which show how to do a number of these braids, but none is proprietary design and some are actualy used by known audio cable manufacturers such as kimber cable and homegrown audio.

This tutorial only explains the braiding methods, it does not show how to do a finished cable(please check this thread for that info) and/or develop on the performance of each braid, as there are enough threads here in head-fi and websites all over the internet discussing the pros ond cons of braided cables.


Braid methods:
3 conductors:
Flat braid
Round braid

4 conductors:
Flat braid A
Flat braid B(tomorrow)
Round braid A(tomorrow)
Round braid B(tomorrow)

Note: I will add 6 and 8 wires braiding techniques later.

Tools and supplies needed:
Wire of choice(I have used 22AWG SPC stranded wire for all the braids but it is not the best solution for all applications, please read my opinion near each braid text)
Cutting pliers
Some sort of clamping mechanism
Adhesive tape
Soldering tools(optional)

Preparation:
1. Cut the wires to the desired length. Braiding reduces the final length of the cable so I always add about 2 inches per 3 feet of wire plus 1 inch extra(for final length adjustment).

2. Temporarily solder the ends of the conductors together:

This ensures that none of the conductors will come loose during the braiding.
Some people perfer to solder the wires to the connector at this stage and then clamp down the connector, but in my opinion it is harder to add techflex and/or heatshrink afterwards.
You can always just hold them with adhesive tape but the wires will come loose if you pull them a bit.

3. Secure the wires to a table or a working bench using some sort of clamping device:

Now you are ready to start braiding.

[size=small]3 conductors flat braid:[/size]
This is the simplest and easiest braid. It is suitable for mini-mini interconnects and powercords. As a starting point, use 22-24AWG for mini-mini interconnects and 12-18AWG for powercords.

1. Hold the 3 wires with both hands.


2. Move the outer left wire over 1 wire to the right.


3. Move the outer right wire over 1 wire to the left.


4.Continue repeating this sequence until you reach the end of the wire.
This picture shows the end of a sequence, which means that the wires are in the initial order.


This is the final look:



[size=small]3 conductors round braid:[/size]
This braid is very similar to the 3 conductor flat braid. As the name sugests it is round braid, or at least rounder than the previous since 3 wires don't actually make a round cable.

1. Hold the 3 wires in your hand like in the step 1 of the flat braid.

2. Move the centre wire under the left wire, around it and over again into the centre.


3. Move the centre wire under the right wire, around it and over again into the centre.


4.Continue repeating this sequence until you reach the end of the wire.
This picture shows the end of a sequence, which means that the wires are in the initial order.


This is the final look:


[size=small]4 conductors flat braid A:[/size]
4 conductor braids are more complex than 3 conductor braids, but offer advantages over the previous. According to some teories behind audio cables, more conductors offer better interference rejection along with other audible advantages. 4 conductor braids are good for interconnects(RCA-RCA), RCA-mini. As a starting point, use 24-26AWG wire for these braids.

1.Hold the 4 wires in your hand.


2.Move the outer left wires over two wires to the right.


3.Move the outer right wire over one wire to the left.


4.Continue repeating this process until you reach the end of the cable.
This picture shows the end of a sequence, which means that the wires are in the initial order.


This is the final look:


I hope that the steps above are clear enough for anyone to understand but I would like to ask 2 things:

1. Please let me know if there are any spelling mistakes as English is not my first language.
2. Please let me know what you think of this tutorial(positive and negative opinions are welcomed) and post your suggestions for improvement.

Good Braiding,

MASantos

Nice instructions. Here is a how to do a 4 wire litz braid.

http://www.chimeralabs.com/diy_braid.html

-Alex-

Quote:



thanks AKZip,

I knew about that site, I will also include that stile of braid. I have gathered 4 different stiles of 4 wire braids, i just need time to organise everything, upload photos and write the instructions. I just posted this to get things moving.

updated

good thread

Nice tutorial, fix your last img though.

Quote:



Thanks for the warning.

I'll try to finish the 4 wire braids tomorrow.

Nice! I'm excited to see the next ones =)

Is the 4 Conductor Flat Braid A the same thing as a Litz?

Well thgat depends on what you mean with litz. The word litz comes from the german Litzendraht which means braided wire. Do a search on google about litz braid, there is a site with the story of litz braiding. All the braids in this tutorial are "Litz braids".

Manuel

Quote:



Ahh, I see. I hadn't read that section, since I didn't think the History of Litz would be the most interesting.

double post.

Nice. I think you're coming down with alzheimers though.

You posted the same thing half an hour before, complete with typo.

Anyway looking forward to the rest of them.

A much easier suggestion on how to make the 4 wire litz braids shown above:

1) Flatten out all wires so they are all side by side.
2) Take 2 outer wires and cross them in the middle, keep in mind which is on top, which is on bottom, for this example, the right wire is on top of the left.
3) Repeat step 2 until you're done.

Simplicity.

Quote:



Actually that creates a different braid than the one above, but yes, it is easier.

Cool, after reading like 5 litz tutorials, I finally ended up braiding a different method, that's just my luck. Considering your technique, I'd assume yours would be a little more round and mine a little more flat.