Wire Gauge for Output and Speaker Jacks?

[The New Steve H]

Can anyone recommend a good wire gauge for my 6L6 output tubes and my speaker jacks? My amp will run around 40 watts, I think.

I don't want to go too heavy. I don't want fat, heavy, stiff wires stressing the other components and snapping things off.

Generally, I'm using 22-gauge wire.

[NickC]

I use 20 gauge, teflon coated, silver-coated, stranded hook-up wire for most everything except ground busses. Some folks hate teflon coated, but I like it.


Edit: I forgot to mention it's rated for 600V.

[Cliff Schecht]

20 AWG is fine.

I like teflon stuff myself, quite a bit actually. I use it for B+ runs, heaters (I have a bunch of pretwisted red-black 24, 22 and 20 gauge teflon wire) and anywhere else where I want wire to go that shouldn't move once placed. Teflon is not so good for preamp work IMO though because it doesn't do great in really short pieces and trying to shove stranded wire in tube sockets is never fun..

[The New Steve H]

Okay, so I guess I should run to Home Dept and get some 20 gauge. If they have it. Thanks.

[Cliff Schecht]

They sell shit wire for housing and stuff. Even the stuff you can get at Radio Shack is better quality..

[Structo]

Wait, are you talking about the wire from the amp to the speakers?

That is speaker cable and you should use at least 16 gauge if not 14 gauge.

Ditto for the interior wiring of the speaker cab.

Not sure what you mean by the 6L6 thing since the output transformer connects to those.
If you are talking about heater wires then yes 20 gauge is sufficient.

[Lonely Raven]

I use 20 gauge, teflon coated, silver-coated, stranded hook-up wire for most everything except ground busses. Some folks hate teflon coated, but I like it.


Edit: I forgot to mention it's rated for 600V.

Where do you get it from?

[NickC]

I use 20 gauge, teflon coated, silver-coated, stranded hook-up wire for most everything except ground busses. Some folks hate teflon coated, but I like it.


Edit: I forgot to mention it's rated for 600V.

Where do you get it from?

http://www.bulkwire.com/wire-cable/ptfe ... -wire.html

I received good product and service from them (I am not affiliated, other than as a customer). Good selection of gauges and colors too.

[amplifiednation]

i just ordered some wire this morning at good prices from apexjr.

[David Root]

A good and safe rule of thumb is to look at the OT secondaries and use the same gauge to extend them if they are not long enough to reach your output jacks.

20 ga is fine for tube leads on two 6L6GC.

[The New Steve H]

Not talking about speaker cables.

I went to a local electronics store and picked up some 20 gauge wire. It's not easy to find anything good in Miami, at a reasonable price.

I was surprised to get a decent price at Antique Electronic Supply. I would order more from them, but I don't want to wait a week for this.

[The New Steve H]

Not sure what you mean by the 6L6 thing since the output transformer connects to those.

I've found that I'm liable to say just about anything before 11:00 a.m. I'm on my third amp, so I guess by now I should have a firmer grasp on the whole transformer/tube relationship.

Love, Gerald

[David Root]

Best deal around on 20 ga (or any other for that matter) stranded or solid silver plated copper, teflon insulated wire is Steve at www.apexjr.com. MILSPEC for less!

[The New Steve H]

Here is the stuff I bought. Fifty feet for $5. Is my amp going to explode?

http://www.tubesandmore.com/scripts/fox ... 02=04_600V

[Lonely Raven]

Here is the stuff I bought. Fifty feet for $5. Is my amp going to explode?

http://www.tubesandmore.com/scripts/fox ... 02=04_600V

Oh crap, you are so screwed!

Unless you got purple, then you're OK.