Favorite PVC wire

[Gaz]

Okay, I'm sick of this Teflon sh*t. I'm good enough at soldering now that I don't need it anyhow.

I'm looking for some quality PVC coated stranded wire that's not a fortune and has a high voltage rating. I'd also love if it was pre-twisted and tinned real nice (like the Mag. Comp. transformers, anyone?)

I'd really love to know you favorites!

[Cliff Schecht]

Alpha 22 AWG solid core goes in every preamp I've built in the past year or so. It's rated for 300V but I've used it much higher than this without an issues at all. IME it's the perfect size for preamp sockets and putting multiple wires in eyelets/turrets. It's also thick enough to not be brittle if you move it around a few times. 20 AWG I think is rated at 600V so if you're worried about the ratings then go for that.

I have a big bunch of really high quality pretwisted Teflon wire in red/black in a few different gauges. I use it for heaters only and it's perfect for this, but other than that I avoid Teflon. I used to use some really nice 20 AWG stranded Teflon wire in my pedals but it was such overkill and such a beast to use that I switched the 22 AWG solid core PVC and never looked back.

[v846]

I really like the stranded 22awg topcoat wire , not sure the manufacture but Valvestorm sells it...
Stays put almost like solid core

http://valvestorm.com/Products/Wire

[Structo]

I used to have trouble with the Teflon coated wire and then someone here recommended a wire stripper that works well.

I used to use a knife, razor blade or whatever to strip it.
Unfortunately, this usually included nicking the wire which can lead to breakage.

The stripper that works well looks like a common pliers type stripper but it cuts cleanly through the Teflon leaving the strands alone.

I never liked using solid core wire that much, especially after tracing down an intermittent that turned out to be a broken wire that was hidden by the insulation.

YMMV IMHO

[M Fowler]

I prefer Top Coat tinned stranded 20ga sold by Mojotone. I should get some of that 22ga from Valve Storm to have on hand as well.

I'm not sure if Steve from Apexjr has any wire like the Topcoat in stock or not I have been meaning to ask him or send a sample of what I like. I really like that white or gray wire Fender used on their boards and filament wiring that is really what I would like to get 100 feet of.

Mark

[Gaz]

Yeah, I've been using those Imperial wire stippers that everyone raves, but it's still no walk in the park. plus I've seen the silver plating corrode in humid environments. I honestly just realized I'd have a lot more fun building amps if I could take Teflon out of the equation.

I found this link, but don't know if this is "topcoat":

http://www.powerwerx.com/wire-cable/str ... -1015.html

[ampdan]

,,

[rawnster]

I've used both of these products with great results!

Neotech
http://www.soniccraft.com/products/wire ... eotech.htm

Kimber
http://angela.com/kimbertcsshookupwireonefoot.aspx

[Jana]

I second ValveStorm. They have a "kit" with a bundle of wire to build an amp of various colors. It's real convenient to just click 1 item and not have to select all the colors and length, etc.

They are really fast with orders too.

[Gaz]

OK, I get the HIFI wire is nice, but I simply can't afford wire that is $1+ a foot! Anything cheaper?

[v846]

Gaz,

Valvestorm sells Topcoat for $0.20 per foot & $18 for 100ft roll.
It fits the description you wanted, PVC coated stranded wire, high voltage rating, pre-twisted and tinned

IMO try the kit Jana mentioned to see if you like it before committing to a pile of the stuff provided 22 AWG is OK.

David

[Colossal]

OK, I get the HIFI wire is nice, but I simply can't afford wire that is $1+ a foot! Anything cheaper?

I think hi-fi enthusiasts are concerned with skin effect and demand more precise materials. It's hard to find anything that is pure copper with no plating on the cheap. There is NTE PVC 300V solid core (search that, there's a huge thread on it and its application in the Express). Usually you get PVC or teflon stranded and plated for cheap. Check with Steve from Apex Jr., he's got a large selection of wire.

[Gaz]

Yeah, I'm actually interested in the topcoat stuff like Valvestorm sells. Here was my good source for PTFE wire:

http://www.steinair.com/storedetail.cfm?productid=256

I have not found a better price/quality/consistency anywhere. I just don't like to think that the people at Kleinair think I'm some aviation dork. I'm an amp dork, damnit!

[Phil_S]

I harvested a small pile of nice topcoat wire from inside an old computer cable. The outer (gray) jacket was marked 300V. I suspect the stuff in the inside is actually 600V, but don't know. I think it was two 3' cables, each with about 20-25 pieces of wire, each unique in the bundle. It is great stuff. Easy to work with. Solders easy. Stays where you put it.

[rawnster]

OK, I get the HIFI wire is nice, but I simply can't afford wire that is $1+ a foot! Anything cheaper?

I wasn't thinking HiFi so much as I was just thinking that those options were the only "civilized" options to use. $20 doesn't make or break an amp build.

BTW: Kimber is .90 cents a ft, not $1.