Solid or Stranded Hookup Wire?

[ScubaSteve87]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RnB180 I personally stay away from NOS which sells rapantly across ebay for a few pennies a foot.

NOS? what is that?

 

[RnB180]

new old stock.

basically military surplus purchased in large auctions or who knows where, thats been sitting on the shelf for years, some of them are actually stripped from old air crafts. I dont use it because I dont like the quality of it, ebay is not a source for wire I would take seriously. But Ive read many here have had good results. Insulation type is usually a mystery, teflon is not a good enough explaination for me

. Personally I use brand new insulated wire, thats actually safe for hosipital use directly from a distributor in master spools. But its all a matter of taste and how strict you are about wiring. EBAY wire is usually good enough for most people.

But for obvious reasons I have different expectations for the what I choose to use. I HAVE to use good wiring to satisfy my own peace of mind.

 

[Jazper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve87 NOS? what is that?

New old stock

 

[ScubaSteve87]

Ahh i c RnB

I have 2 50 ft rolls of NOS from ebay and the 30 gauge I have coming is from ebay. All from navships, I find him a very good seller. I can see how you would want only the best. I have never really tried out different wire, never even heard a silver interconnect, but I do know that silver teflon NOS stuff sound much much better than the crap ratshack cable that I was using. I could definitely tell the difference between the two.

 

[RnB180]

Ive tried his wire before,

I prefer not to use it for my own reasons, but in no way should it deter you from using it if it works for you.

what I use is not found on ebay. too expensive and not as easy to obtain as mil spec SPC

 

[adhoc]

on the topic of NOS wire, is this true? I once read it in the auction description for a spool of wire:

"The wire is solid core copper, and is plated with a silvery metal. I assume this is silver as the wire is teflon jacketed - copper wires that are teflon-jacketed must have a silver plating to prevent reaction between the copper and teflon. "

 

[jboehle]

Maybe it depends on the type of Teflon, but I've never heard of that. Look at Belden 89259...it's stranded bare copper core with bare copper shield and Teflon insulation is used throughout. Maybe the copper is treated first, though.

 

[rickcr42]

Quote:

copper wires that are teflon-jacketed must have a silver plating to prevent reaction between the copper and teflon. "

more factual would be

"silver wires MUST be jacketed to prevent tarnsihing"

Ever have a silver ring or necklace or watch band ?

If there was ever a metal that interacts with the environement and has a chemical reaction it is silver and all steps to prevent this interaction should be taken.That means totally enclosing the wire with a tube of some kind (the covering) then sealing the ends at the connection (solder,jack/plug connection,heat shring tubing,etc.).No WAY is a blackened connection a sound electrical connection and why silver contact switcheds are sealed mostly though here less important as long as they clean the contacts as they are used (and why it is a good idea to "cycle" your switches from time to time)

NOS wire I would walk away from unless the seller actually knows what he has,what it was used for and what the metals used in the construction are.Many "specialty" wires that may hit the surplus market are meant for things other than carrying an electronic signal and some metals are death for sonics (high tin or steel content).
"Mystery Wire" is no bargain no matter how cheap it sells for if you value your sonics

 

[ScubaSteve87]

Wow I just got my 30 awg from navships. The other thing I like about him is he is a lightening fast shipper. But you guys wern't lying!!! 30 AWG is SOOOO small. But I think it is perfect for the mod chip wire up that I will be doing. I don't want some solder bridges causing my PS2 to explode.

 

[PinkFloyd]

I generally use 5 amp lighting flex or wire poached from things like electric drills, toasters, irons etc. Got some lovely "burnt in" cable off a 1960's electric iron from the skip (dumpster) the other day and I also use the hook up wire poached from things like motors and transformers out of 1970's equipment. I seldom "purchase" hook up wire as there is always some good stuff kicking about in discarded equipment at my local dump.

 

[rickcr42]

Quote:

But you guys wern't lying!!! 30 AWG is SOOOO small

Some human hair is HUGE in comparison.

Quote:

I seldom "purchase" hook up wire as there is always some good stuff kicking about in discarded equipment at my local dump.

Scavenging wire is not a bad idea as long as like I said previous you know what you are getting.Many wires meant for industrial current carrying use have a serious steel content and if ever there was a sonic butcher it is steel used for carrying an audio signal so know what you have is good advice to most.

BTW-some of the best "sounding" wire for signal path lash up can be had by using a pair if serious pliers (no wimp tools need apply

) to pull the center solid copper jacketed conductor out of RG-6 coax cable.
There must be miles of the stuff floating around in all parts of at least american society and it would be a rare house indeed that did not have a bit of "extra" kicking around from the CATV or SATV hookup

.

Plus it makes a great ground buss wire for star grounds if you actually pull the copper wire out of the last bit of insulation

 

[PinkFloyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickcr42 Scavenging wire is not a bad idea as long as like I said previous you know what you are getting.

I'm very selective Rick, I only use the best quality rubbish.

 

[rickcr42]

Me too

 

[The Monkey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickcr42 Me too

Me three.

Go Team Rubbish!

 

[blip]

While we're on the topic... About how small solid core can you go on say 1 ft interconnects without risking breakage in the long term?

People use CAT-5e wires so 24 AWG must be okay (so long as it is supported in a twisted pair config?). 28 AWG seems possible if you protected it somehow... (Weren't the magnet wire interconnects that used packing tape around that size?)