Which wire do you use

[alltrax74]

I'm wondering which kind of wire do you guys use in your pedals : solid, stranded, AWG ?

Until now I used 24 AWG stranded wire (pre tinned 100m), but it is a bit too stiff and it often breaks at the solder joint when I manipulate them too much.
So I recently changed to 26 AWG, but I am wondering if 28 AWG would not be even better ?

We obviously don't need big sections in pedals, and small Ø seem so easier to manipulate
(for the same reason I hate solid core wires)

[IvIark]

This because it's cheap as chips.

http://www.rapidonline.com/Cables-Connectors/Unistrand-7-0-2-Wire-on-100m-reels-plain-colours-502641

I used to use much bigger wire (I've got a few reels still of 16/0.2, 24/0.2 and even 32/0.2) but I realised it was a waste of time for the type of things we're building, all it did was make the offboard wiring more difficult because of the extra tension you get with thicker wire.  Thicker wire is nice sometimes for tagboard builds, but for vero or PCB I just stick to the 7/0.2mm.

[Vince]

I use the Rapid stuff too. I find it perfect.

[boratto]

CCtV cable, 8 ways, a lot of colors inside.

[IvIark]

I use ribbon cable for pots. Makes it much easier to keep them together and tidy without having to double the length by twisting them together.

[rocket88]

I was using some solid 22g I found at a local electronics store that's really nice, but It's been a bear laying everything out because of the thickness of the wire and the insulation. I just bough barry's best hookup wire from pcbshop. It's 24g, tinned and bonded stranded wire, but holds its shape like solid core, looks like good quality, and pretty cheap. I literally just got it today, and will be using it in my next build, so I can report back as to how good it is.

[alltrax74]

That rapidonline cable is the same Ø as the 24 AWG I was using, don't you find it too stiff when you need to pass it underneaf the board to connect pots or switches ?

[IvIark]

It's flexible 7 core

[Vince]

I use the 22awg stranded stuff. Not sure if there would be much difference between 24 & 22

http://www.rapidonline.com/FFSearchResults.aspx?qFS=&query=Wire+1%2F0.6mm&x=25&y=16

[Silver Blues]

Yeah I use 22 AWG stranded. I have a bunch laying around but I think I need to buy more soon, lol.

[Geiri]

Best. Wire. EVER.

22AWG (thicker):
Click here!

24AWG (thinner):
Click here!

Seriously, I've tried many and this is the shit. It's stranded but extremely strong. It's stiff so you can bend it like solid if you want. I've got three reels of these here now and I'm never switching to anything else.

[Silver Blues]

Ah yes, the bonded stranded stuff. It's as great as he says, guys.

[Geiri]

[alltrax74]

1000ft minimum quantity...for each color, that's minimum 4000ft, which would probably cover my next 10 building years

I'll maybe try the rapidonline one

[Geiri]

I just use one colour at all time. No need for colour coding here!

[johnk]

I use 26 gauge belden Teflon coated silver plated wire in mine. the tiny gauge allows me to push it through the holes and solder it on the underside making it have a stress relief.

[alltrax74]

Do you buy it online John ?
If so could you share the link (26 gauge is also my fave Ø) ?
Thanks

[johnk]

no. I buy it at a local electronics store. the problem is, they have a very limited stock of it.

[alltrax74]

Ok, thank you

[Beaker]

It looks like Mouser stock the Belden 26 gauge teflon coated wire that John uses.

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/645/usd/1279.pdf