Trainwreck wire

[Cliff Schecht]

I finally found some 20 gauge solid core wire in town at a local hardware store. It's only three colors (red green and white) which is enough to allow for color coding (Sharpie works well here) but the wire is not rated for any specific voltage and this worries me. I'm hesitant to just use the wire without testing it first but I'm not quite sure how to safely test the wire for insulation strength, voltage handling capability, etc.. Does anybody have any recommendations for testing this wire? What is the insulation thickness of the wire typically used in a Trainwreck? I'm measuring a .012" thickness on the wire insulation which seems too thin to be able to handle typical Express voltages.. What does the "recommended" wire insulation measure?

[Structo]

It's probably 300v although there is 12v wire out there that looks similar but that is usually stranded.
I think I recall that HAD used some of the 300v PVC in the ODS amps.
I suppose it depends on the specs and who the wire was designed for.
Like the Military Spec stuff we see that is 100% over spec'd so there is no chance of failure.

[Cliff Schecht]

The guy said it was for low current applications like doorbells which is why I'm so concerned. Doorbells are 12V systems so I'd be running the wire at 35x the normally used voltage! 30' of wire only cost me $4 and I can use it for breadboarding so it's not like I'm at a huge loss here, I'd just love to start working on the amp now before I get busy with all of the layout I have to do for PAiA over Spring Break..

I may just wait for Ron to get back home and get some wire from him like we discussed. He lives about 5 hours from me so it would only take a few days in the mail at most.

[passfan]

That's what those in the electrical field refer to as bell wire. You might google that term and find out a voltage rating. I'd hesitate to use it in a tube amp if it were me.

[Cliff Schecht]

Agreed, I'm seeing now that it's low current and rated for 48V max. Definitely not the right stuff to use in a tube amp. I've been all over town and haven't found a single place that sells suitable 20AWG solid core wire.. I wish I was back in Austin!

[bigbeck]

Can you get 22 gauge? It'll safely carry 6 amps. That's even good enough for the heaters on the wreck. And if you hook the heater tap directly to the first EL34, the 22ga. wire will only "see" 2.5 amps. Is there a Radio shack close by you? They carry 18,20 and 22 gauge hook up wire rated at 300V.

[Cliff Schecht]

I usually avoid RatShack unless I have to go there. If I can pick up a decent amount of solid core 20 AWG wire then I might do it though. Does anybody have any experience with building a Wreck with Radioshack wire?

[Chad]

I usually avoid RatShack unless I have to go there. If I can pick up a decent amount of solid core 20 AWG wire then I might do it though. Does anybody have any experience with building a Wreck with Radio Shack wire?

I've built a couple of amps with radio shack wire(20ga solid) and they sounded wonderful and have yet to have any problems yet.I still like to use other wire I get at a local elect. dealer but I'm not going to change out the R.S. wire,they sound great. No need to fix what's not broken right. Chad

[Cliff Schecht]

Sweet! I will pick some up tomorrow so I can start assembling the amp. Thanks for the responses guys .

[bigbeck]

I've used it on about 20 different builds,including an Express. None were over 420V, though. Usually,I use 600V wire for parts of the circuit that see 350V or more which is no more than a foot or so of wire.

With insurance companies being what they are, 300V wire is probably safe up to 1000V+.

[Structo]

Funny you should mention door bell wire.

I used some of that (red and white) that came loosely twisted, I twisted it a little tighter and used it for heater wiring of two preamp tubes in a little 6V6 amp.
I used 18ga (I think) for the power tubes but the bell wire for the two 12ax7's and it hasn't melted yet.

I would guess the wire I used is 20ga.

[M Fowler]

If you look at some of the hardware store wire they sell that is marked for 12v car/boat use has a manufacturers information noting 300v or 600v and I have used that before.

Now I get all spec'd wire from the same dealers most of us are using. I also have my radio shack wire which can be used but perfer not to. It's hookup wire but at lower quality spectrum.