Wire: Solid vs. Stranded, Teflon vs. PVC

[analogjunkie]

I wired up my preamp board and my filter board with 22awg solid core PVC/Cloth wire from AES. This stuff sucks big time. Keeps breaking at the soldering point and is a PITA to cut clean. There is no way even if I am super careful and clean with the wiring that I can trust it to last considering the ease of the breaks. The soldering is good, I am using a silver bearing flux core style solder, it is just too stiff.

Obviously, I am in the market for new wire, and I want to finish this amp pretty soon. I used the search function and found some info, but figured a new thread dedicated to the pros/cons of all the combinations would help others, and myself, find the best wire for the job.

Thanks in advance!

[M Fowler]

I have been using 20 gauge stranded from turretboards.com as well as from other places but really like the wire Ken Watts offers.

[Drumslinger]

Yep, Ken Watts or ApexJr for wire.

[analogjunkie]

I've ordered stuff from Ken before, and Just spoke with Steve at Apex Jr. The prices differ dramatically. What is the difference in quality? They are both teflon right?

[M Fowler]

I don't use teflon wire I hate that slimey stuff I have a bunch of apexjr's teflon but do not use it.

I use PVC 600v tinned stranded and solid.

[ChrisM]

I use PVC, 300V and 600V. 22AWG or 20AWG.

[tjauernig]

I use stranded 600V PVC MTW, 20AWG and 22AWG. Never had a problem. When I worked at Peavet they wanted to use various cloth covered stranded and solid wire. I hated it. Back in the day, the cloth wire was waxed to help it from fraying, and it cut cleanly and pushed back easily. Today it's not made the same way and usually doesn't work out very well. I ocassionally haved used solid wire for heaters, but that's about it. Watts Tube Audio is a good supplier.