madbeanpedals::forum

General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:41:45 PM

Title: Which wire?
Post by: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:41:45 PM
Hi,

What wire do people use for wiring the offboard stuff (pots, jacks, switches, power)?

Will the thickness affect the sound at all?

I prefer to use stranded as solid snaps too easily when you are moving around trying to solder & test, but then I got some 22AWG stranded from Tayda and it doesn't fit through the holes on the etched boards i've been building.

I've got a load of cat5, which is solid and snaps very easily, but is nice and thin, and neat as it's twisted together in pairs (although, will that cause a problem?) - but it's very thin....will that affect the sound at all?

Also, do you build them loose so you can test before boxing, or do you fix pots, switches etc in the box and solder wires in place?

Thanks,

Ian
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: jubal81 on April 16, 2013, 09:45:32 PM
I'm pretty sure most of us use 24 gauge pre-bonded, which is a bit thinner than 22 gauge. It's stranded, but 'pre tinned' so all the strands are sticking together when you strip it.

I pretty much exclusively use 'Barry's best' from GuitarPCB.com. I've gotten spools from Newark of NTE, which are great and pretty cheap, but it doesn't hold its shape like the stuff Barry stocks.

As for technique, I generally cut the wire extra long, solder it to the PCB and then route, measure and cut after it's in the box.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:47:15 PM
Thanks - i've seen the Barry's stuff mentioned before somewhere, but the shipping from guitarpcb.com to the uk is extortionate.

Ian
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: jubal81 on April 16, 2013, 09:48:40 PM
Quote from: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:47:15 PM
Thanks - i've seen the Barry's stuff mentioned before somewhere, but the shipping from guitarpcb.com to the uk is extortionate.

Ian


Newark is Element 14, so you can easily get the spools of NTE in Europe.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:50:01 PM
Ah, cool - is that this stuff? -
http://www.newark.com/nte-electronics/wh24-00-100/hook-up-wire-100ft-24awg-cu-pvc/dp/33C7358
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: jubal81 on April 16, 2013, 09:54:39 PM
Quote from: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:50:01 PM
Ah, cool - is that this stuff? -
http://www.newark.com/nte-electronics/wh24-00-100/hook-up-wire-100ft-24awg-cu-pvc/dp/33C7358


Yep, that's it. Good stuff.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:55:30 PM
Ah, bummer - US stock with a big delivery charge..doh!

At least I know to look for 24AWG now - i'll have a search around.

Thanks,

Ian
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: GermanCdn on April 16, 2013, 09:57:10 PM
Yeah, 24 Ga is a bit easier to work with.  I use the solid wire from Tayda to make my own board mounted pots.  I've never had much success with Barry's wire, although truthfully that's more likely to do with inadequate wire strippers at the time.

I also tend to make my own wire combos (two, three, and four wire) using Jacob's cordless drill technique.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: jubal81 on April 16, 2013, 09:58:02 PM
Newark is the U.S. arm of Element 14, if I understand correctly. You can change the country at the top right corner of the webpage.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:58:44 PM
Yeah, but on the UK it shows US stock with a one off delivery charge.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: GermanCdn on April 16, 2013, 09:59:00 PM
Quote from: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:55:30 PM
Ah, bummer - US stock with a big delivery charge..doh!

At least I know to look for 24AWG now - i'll have a search around.

Thanks,

Ian


If you're struggling with shipping charges from the States, buy your wire from musikding or banzai, both in Germany.  Shipping's cheap, wire's good, and they sell nice multi packs.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 09:59:26 PM
cool - i'll check them out - thanks!
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: ichilton on April 16, 2013, 10:00:52 PM
This stuff seems to look ok! - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330743588965
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: bigmufffuzzwizz on April 16, 2013, 10:04:33 PM
I finally handled the apex Jr. Teflon wire and I must say its the highest quality I've ever seen.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: Haberdasher on April 16, 2013, 10:24:28 PM
Quote from: jubal81 on April 16, 2013, 09:58:02 PM
Newark is the U.S. arm of Element 14, if I understand correctly. You can change the country at the top right corner of the webpage.
It is element14.  I think in europe they go by the name farnell.
Title: Re: Re: Which wire?
Post by: stevie1556 on April 16, 2013, 10:35:31 PM
I use this stuff from Rapid Electronics www.rapidonline.com/Cables-Connectors/7-0-2-Wire-on-100m-reels-plain-colours-502641 (http://www.rapidonline.com/Cables-Connectors/7-0-2-Wire-on-100m-reels-plain-colours-502641)

I've get 8 different colours, the plastic casing on it doesn't melt when you are soldering, and it's ridiculously cheap!

Sent from my thumbs using Tapatalk!
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: alanp on April 17, 2013, 03:18:04 AM
I tend to throw in a wire sampler pack from smallbear whenever I place an order there (their 24 gauge pack with ten different colours at 50 feet each.)

I have no idea whatsoever how many kilograms a feet is, but so far this plan of action is working out nicely.
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: ichilton on April 17, 2013, 09:53:53 AM
Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Which wire?
Post by: DutchMF on April 17, 2013, 04:34:22 PM
Quote from: Haberdasher on April 16, 2013, 10:24:28 PM
Quote from: jubal81 on April 16, 2013, 09:58:02 PM
Newark is the U.S. arm of Element 14, if I understand correctly. You can change the country at the top right corner of the webpage.
It is element14.  I think in europe they go by the name farnell.

Yes, they do, but the things I looked up on their site so far are very expensive compared to other suppliers we use!  :( Don't know about the wire though...

Paul