Wiring with CAT-5 (Solid core)

[bdevlin]

Would this be frowned on for using to wire up stompboxes?  It's pretty high gauge solid core copper.  I am tempted with it sheerly because of the wide variation in the wires sleeve colors.

[Gilles C]

I think it's 24 gauge, so it's not so big that you can't use it IMHO.  I don't see any problem using it, except the normal problems when we flex solid wire too much.

Gilles

[slacker]

I've used stranded cat5 cable, because I got a load free from work. It works fine.

[darron]

i read a thread on this a few months ago. somebody used solid core cable of a similar gauge and got crappy results. the conclusion of the argument was that solid core should not be used for the audio hookups as it has less surface area, and therefore makes poor connections at soldering terminals.

i've never seen stranded cat 5, probably because it would be too much of a pain to crimple.

[MartyMart]

I've used very thin solid core in emergencies, like the core was 1.5mm !!
I would guess that slightly thicker would be fine if you're careful and dont flex it too much.
I've seen it used in builds for very "neat" right angle bent wires

MM.

[slacker]

i've never seen stranded cat 5, probably because it would be too much of a pain to crimple.

The stuff I've got is from cat5 patch leads not the stuff you do the actual permanent wiring with.

[JimKo]

I've been using salvaged parallel printer cables.  Open them up and you'll find a bundle of multi-colored stranded wire.  I think the wire is 28 gauge, but I've never measure it.  It's very flexible and the multi-colors makes it to trace when troubleshooting.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Solid core wire is fine provided it is not going to be flexed.
I design my commercial boxes so there is almost no wiring as such, but for prototyping I use solid wire extensively within the circuit area, and multistrand off to anything that moves with respect to the board.
It's plenty fat enough in my opinion. I have a few yards of 50 pair telephone wire (used to run into commercial buildings). My only complaint is that (at least the stuff I got from the salvage yard) it isn't as easy to solder as the TOTALLY EXCELLENT pre-bonded hookup wire from SmallBear.
But it works for me (and is exactly the right size for prototyping slabs if you use those!).
A bunch of it in a pickle jar makes a nice substitute for a bunch of flowers.

[danymal_X]

Funny, I was just thinking about this very topic this morning... did a quick net search:

http://www.hcm.hitachi.com/electronic_round_cable/IEEE_1284_printer_cable.shtml

I am getting ready to undertake a hardwire multicable mod for a MIDI controller I have (behringer FCB1010)

the mod is here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fcb1010/files/Hardware%20Mods/multicable/ if anyone is interested.... I also plan on making use of some extra space inside and the two 1/4 jacks to add some 'secret ingredients'... taking advantage of the extra conductors to wire up a couple of cicuits inside the board... hence my interest in suitability of printer cable conductor wires for effect wiring...
Seems to me if it is suitable then bulk wire like this could be pretty handy for wiring up multiple effect boards or similar projects?

DX