selecting a wire

[metebalci]

Hi,

I am searching for wires, and certainly I have questions However, I do not want to start subjective arguments like silver is better than copper. Regarding to chemical/physical/electrical properties, I do not know more than what is written on manufacturer datasheets.

My first choice would be a stranded silver-coated or tinned copper with Teflon insulation. Because, silver-coat or tin protects copper and teflon insulation is one of the best in a view of electrical/physical properties.

First of all, what is the chemical/physical/electrical properties that affects the characteristics of the signal passing in a wire ? e.g. resistance, silver-coating or tin, insulation material, copper purity, skin effect.

Do you use same wire for high voltage (HT to plate), signal voltage and filaments ? Is it a problem to use a cable with very high ampacity in signal path ?

The information in the table below is from manufacturers like Belden, Alpha e.g.

Conductors:

1) Solid Copper
2) Stranded Copper

3) Solid Tinned Copper
4) Stranded Tinned Copper

5) Solid Silver-Coated Copper
6) Stranded Silver-Coated Copper

7) Solid Silver
8) Stranded Silver

Insulation and/or Jacket Types:

1) Plastics

a) Nylon

b) PVC (Polyvinyl-Chloride)
c) Irradiated PVC (XLPVC)

d) Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)
e) High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)
f) Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE)
g) Cellular Polyethylene
h) XL-Dur (Cross-linked Polyethylene) (I dont know if it is really a plastic)

i) Polyurethane (PUR)

j) Polypropylene (PP)
k) Cellular Polypropylene

2) Fluoropolymers

a) TFE Teflon (TFE=Tetrafluoroethylene Fluorocarbon)
b) FEP Teflon (FEP=Fluorinated Ethylene-Propylene)
(Teflon=Fluorocarbon Resins)

c) Tefzel (ETFE, Ethylene-Tetrafluoroethylene Copolymer)

d) Kynar (PVF, Polyvinyl Fluoride)
e) Solef (PVDF, Polyvinylidene Fluoride)

f) Halar (E-CTFE, Thermoplastic Fluoropolymer)

3) Rubbers

a) Natural Rubber
b) Silicone (Silicon + Oxygen)

c) Neoprene (Polychloroprene)
d) Hypalon (Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene)
e) EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Elastomer)

f) Polybutadiene

Some other features:

OFHC = Oxygen Free, High Conductivity Copper. %99.95 Copper, %101 conductive than copper.

Extruded = Conductors are simultaneously insulated and cable is formed by a continuous extrusion process.

PS: There may be mistakes in chemical names and groupings, since I am not a chemist.

I hope such an organized information would help other newcomers.

Thanks so much.

MB

[markp]

Try looking at Belden 83010 and the like. I use it all the time for everything you can imagine. Its silver plated teflon jacket with 29 strands per wire.

[metebalci]

> Try looking at Belden 83010 and the like.

I am considering the same series from Belden, but 20 awg.

Do you think a soldering alloy with silver content is helpful when using silver-coated wires ?

I think the 20 awg wire can carry about 5A. Since the maximum current I have is about 3A, am I right to use a 20 awg wire ?

Thanks so much.

MB

[markp]

Use 4% silver solder to prevent any leaching. Make sure you get the higher number of stands(19) instead of the lower(7) it has much more surface area.

[Magura]

2% silver in the solder is adequate to prevent the silver from migrating to the joint.

Magura