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08-22-2018, 04:37 PM
Hi Guys
When wiring a guitar amp, we have many choices about the wire, so how do we make sure we get the right stuff?
Wire has a gauge or thickness, denoted by a number: the smaller the number the fatter the wire. Gauge ONLY determines current capacity, and vice versa.
Insulation type can be cloth, PVC or Teflon, although there are some other poly names to confuse us - haha. Generally, PVC-insulated wire is the norm. Teflon is thinner and requires special wire strippers, so it can be expensive overall. Cloth is purely aesthetic and usually has a plastic inner layer to provide the actual insulation. Vintage restorationists prefer cloth-covered wire to maintain a vintage look, but the down-side is that most cloth wire is solid.
The insulation type determines the voltage capability of the wire. The cheapest wire will be rated at 300V, and 600V and 1kV ratings are available. In general, the 300V wire is good enough for most assemblies since the ratings are actually AC volts, so "300V" means 420V peak or DC. We are not concerned with the heating equivalnce between RMS-AC and DC; rather, the maximum voltage withstand capability.
Stranded-core wire is made up of many thin strands wound together forming a flexible overall wire. Solid-core wire is just that: one solid strand of wire. It is easily bent and holds its shape, which is why some amp builders prefer it. However, this same characteristic can make it more microphonic, too. We generally recommend stranded wire for all applications other than for buss wire on hand-wired cards.
TUT3 Chapter 3 discusses wire selection and wiring practice in detail.
Have fun
When wiring a guitar amp, we have many choices about the wire, so how do we make sure we get the right stuff?
Wire has a gauge or thickness, denoted by a number: the smaller the number the fatter the wire. Gauge ONLY determines current capacity, and vice versa.
Insulation type can be cloth, PVC or Teflon, although there are some other poly names to confuse us - haha. Generally, PVC-insulated wire is the norm. Teflon is thinner and requires special wire strippers, so it can be expensive overall. Cloth is purely aesthetic and usually has a plastic inner layer to provide the actual insulation. Vintage restorationists prefer cloth-covered wire to maintain a vintage look, but the down-side is that most cloth wire is solid.
The insulation type determines the voltage capability of the wire. The cheapest wire will be rated at 300V, and 600V and 1kV ratings are available. In general, the 300V wire is good enough for most assemblies since the ratings are actually AC volts, so "300V" means 420V peak or DC. We are not concerned with the heating equivalnce between RMS-AC and DC; rather, the maximum voltage withstand capability.
Stranded-core wire is made up of many thin strands wound together forming a flexible overall wire. Solid-core wire is just that: one solid strand of wire. It is easily bent and holds its shape, which is why some amp builders prefer it. However, this same characteristic can make it more microphonic, too. We generally recommend stranded wire for all applications other than for buss wire on hand-wired cards.
TUT3 Chapter 3 discusses wire selection and wiring practice in detail.
Have fun
