what gauge wire does everyone use

[bigchasbroon]

in my first couple of builds i have used a single core wire which breaks very easily. I wondered what does everyone else favour? and what size do you drill the holes in your pcbs?

[makaze808]

I use 24 AWG , stranded, silver plated. I sometimes think it's too thin and would like to try 22 AWG but I got too much 24 AWG.

Get some good, I say GOOD wire strippers that can handle the thinnies.

Hole I think 0.7mm, I'm just going to get a dremmel engraving bit which I think is 0.8mm and has come highly recommended. I am going to order a 1.2mm (ish)  one as well so I can drill those entery holes before the solder pads to help support the wires and relieve stress on the wires, solder pads AND MY F************ HEAD

Woz.

[Kearns892]

I've always liked the small bear 22 pretinned stuff, but based on the way you spelled favor im guessing you might not be from America. If that's the case you may have to source/ tin your own.

[mojotron]

I've always liked the small bear 22 pretinned stuff, but based on the way you spelled favor im guessing you might not be from America. If that's the case you may have to source/ tin your own.

Me too - it's not quite as flexible but that seems to be the right size and type of wire - stays where you put it...

[jdub]

I've been using the 24 gauge/7 strand bonded (pretinned) wire from Pedal Parts Plus, and it works for me.  Easy to work with, fits in small holes and they sell it by the foot, too.  Only drawback is that, as with all stranded & pretinned wire, too much back-n-forth movement at a connection point & it'll break off.  And, as makaze808 says, you need a pair of strippers that'll handle the small gauge...

[oliphaunt]

I also use the PPP 24 gauge wire and I like it.  I recently got some from Effects Connection, basically the same thing but the rubber coating is a little thicker, and they have more colors.  they are both easy to work with.  I bought wire strippers from Rat Shack similar to the pic below for about $8 and am very happy with them.

[Transmogrifox]

24 AWG, stranded, pre-tinned.  I use whatever I can get my hands on.  26AWG is ok, but not much smaller.  I don't like much larger than 24AWG because I sometimes have to cut off strands to make it fit into a perf board hole.

[Talon5051]

24 AWG from Small Bear.  The pre-bond stuff. 

[R O Tiree]

Chas, since you're based in UK, like me, try Maplins. They do little bags with 10m of hook-up wire in them, 7/0.2 (which means 7 strands, each strand 0.2mm dia). Various colours and quite affordable. I use different colours for different functions, which makes de-bugging a lot easier.

TEH CLICKY.

[WLS]

When I first started building I used 22awg stranded wire. As time went on I switched to 24awg stranded.

Reason being as I strived to stick more options into smaller boxes and the 24awg was easier to bend and route into smaller boxes. But I am reluctant to use 26awg guage wire due to it is more prone to breaking.

I guess it is a matter of preference.


Bill

[trixdropd]

I have the pedal parts plus wire and i don't like it. it breaks way to easily. Now i swear by the stranded, pre tinned wire at effectsconnection  http://www.effectsconnection.com/oscommerce/index.php?cPath=53&osCsid=b3fd7ba16b854b250e34298413ddfd41

I bought enough to last for the year hopefully!!

[kamiwaza]

I have wondered about this lately. Everyone seems to hate single core wire. I love it. I find stranded wire just turns into a mess very quickly. Although solid core does break every now and then when I'm building, I figure: how much is it going to move once I'm finished and it's inside the box?

I use 24-gauge. Am I the only single core guy?

kamiwaza

[bigchasbroon]

Thanks guys Im going to go stranded, I'll take Tiree's advice on the maplin stuff.

[tempus]

I use 22 or 24 gauge stranded myself. I wonder though if it should be a little thicker in the case of ground wires (signal or DC power)? For instance, if you were setting up a pedalboard and had several switches to switch to ground. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Thanks

[fpaul]

I just switched to using the solid core wires from multi conductor telephone wire.  I had a half roll left over from an alarm installation many years ago.  I'm not sure what the gauge is but it seems to be just right.  Works great for breadboard jumpers too.  I was using stranded because most people here say solid core breaks too easy.  By the time I finally boxed up my ADA flanger almost every pot had at least one broken stranded wire. I've had the same problem to a lessor degree on many other pedals, as I tend to play just using the circuit board before I commit to boxing them up.   I don't see how solid core could possibly break any easier.  Besides, it doesn't flop around as much which seems to be the main cause of breakage.  Final thing is that the solid core is MUCH easier to work with and remove/replace.  Maybe I'm wrong, not enough time or circuits built yet to know.