Hi,
I am looking to build a RH84SE v.2 amp - can anyone recommend where to buy the hookup wire from in the UK?
I am looking for solid core
Can you recommend the size of wire in mm or awg and whether I should be looking at pvc, or ptfe
This will be to wire the heaters, power etc
Should it be 14 or 12 awg or a mixture depending on the use?
Thanks
I am looking to build a RH84SE v.2 amp - can anyone recommend where to buy the hookup wire from in the UK?
I am looking for solid core
Can you recommend the size of wire in mm or awg and whether I should be looking at pvc, or ptfe
This will be to wire the heaters, power etc
Should it be 14 or 12 awg or a mixture depending on the use?
Thanks
I'll give your thread a bump by supplying some UK suppliers whose recommendations you can consider.
PTFE wire is more heat resistant so a smaller gauge does the job of a larger gauge PVC wire. Being thinner makes it easier to wire valve sockets, even if the wire is stranded. 1000V/14A/1.5mm/19 strands: https://www.ampmaker.com/shop/hook-up-wire-1000v-14a-ptfe/
Alternatively, Watford Valves do a range of waxed cotton, solid core wires for that vintage look! Check out the gauges recommended here: Watford Valves product search :: wire
And there's 600V solid core wire here: Wire - Electrical
PTFE wire is more heat resistant so a smaller gauge does the job of a larger gauge PVC wire. Being thinner makes it easier to wire valve sockets, even if the wire is stranded. 1000V/14A/1.5mm/19 strands: https://www.ampmaker.com/shop/hook-up-wire-1000v-14a-ptfe/
Alternatively, Watford Valves do a range of waxed cotton, solid core wires for that vintage look! Check out the gauges recommended here: Watford Valves product search :: wire
And there's 600V solid core wire here: Wire - Electrical
Farnell; https://uk.farnell.com/c/cable-wire-cable-assemblies/hook-up-wire
RS; Hookup & Equipment Wire | RS Components
Use PTFE at your owb risk as it migrates and stays semi liquid. In time the inner conductor will go through the insulation and it is difficult to strip for tinning without the correct tools.
RS; Hookup & Equipment Wire | RS Components
Use PTFE at your owb risk as it migrates and stays semi liquid. In time the inner conductor will go through the insulation and it is difficult to strip for tinning without the correct tools.
I've not used PTFE, so I would listen to JonSnell's advice in that respect.
What he doesn't say is what gauge or diameter of PVC wire you should use.
I believe your amp is an EL84 device, so let's see if Jon agrees with the following:
22 gauge for signals, 20 for preamp valve heaters, 18 for power valve heaters.
To convert to diameter in mm use: AWG to mm/mm2 | Gauge to mm conversion
Just got the go ahead from the boss to start my Headphone amp.. so I'm also interested in this. Initially I thought PTFE but given Jon's comments perhaps in the long run and my soldering non-PTFE. The amp will be tinkered with.
It's a 12BH7 and parallel single-ended ecc99 OTL. Each channel possibly 6-8 valves (if I want the same wire to be applicable during tinkering.
I'll be using 12V DC heaters throughout, so 2-5, the different channels later will be in parallel anyway.
It's a 12BH7 and parallel single-ended ecc99 OTL. Each channel possibly 6-8 valves (if I want the same wire to be applicable during tinkering.
I'll be using 12V DC heaters throughout, so 2-5, the different channels later will be in parallel anyway.
A lot of those aren't for high voltage, be sure to add voltage rating to the extended attributes to search out the 600V versions.
How about this one, its a cloth covered solid from hotrox?
20 AWG Solid Core, Lacquered Cloth Cover, 600V
https://www.hotroxuk.com/wire-20-awg-solid-core-lacquered-cloth-cover-600v.html
It look like the same as that used by Elams1894 on Youtube
There is great camera work of his guitar amp build that he has posted which is really helpful for beginners like me
Small Tube Amp Build - Step by Step (3 - Turret Board, Filament Wires) - YouTube
20 AWG Solid Core, Lacquered Cloth Cover, 600V
https://www.hotroxuk.com/wire-20-awg-solid-core-lacquered-cloth-cover-600v.html
It look like the same as that used by Elams1894 on Youtube
There is great camera work of his guitar amp build that he has posted which is really helpful for beginners like me
Small Tube Amp Build - Step by Step (3 - Turret Board, Filament Wires) - YouTube
Unfortunately, your link did not take me directly to the wire.
600V;20 AWG wire would certainly be OK for preamp valve heaters, but 18 AWG is recommended for power valve heaters. See the words of wisdom here:
Heater Wiring - the Good the Bad and the Ugly
600V;20 AWG wire would certainly be OK for preamp valve heaters, but 18 AWG is recommended for power valve heaters. See the words of wisdom here:
Heater Wiring - the Good the Bad and the Ugly
Attachments
And I can't figure out why. The URL gets corrupted after clicking. Trying this:
Wire - 20 AWG Solid Core, Lacquered Cloth Cover, 600V
Even #20 is fatter than preamps or most power amps, need. #26 will easily carry 1.2 Amps (four 12A*7 or two 6V6) a foot out and back at <2% voltage drop.
Filament wiring gauge
Voltage Drop Calculator
Voltage Drop Calculator
Here is a link to the RH84 single ended amp that eldarvanyar is going to build which, as the name suggests, employs EL84 output valves:
RH Amplifiers: RH84 amplifier - revision 2
The heater current demand will be lower than for, say, a push-pull EL34 amp and the wire gauge may be selected accordingly. However, I hesitate to give specific lower gauge recommendations for safety reasons.
Thanks, PRR, for the voltage drop calculator which should help eldarvanyar to make the required calculations and come to his own conclusions.
Perhaps asking the question, but this time specifically in relation to the RH84 SE amp, in the 'Tubes / Valves' section of the forum will elicate more advice.
RH Amplifiers: RH84 amplifier - revision 2
The heater current demand will be lower than for, say, a push-pull EL34 amp and the wire gauge may be selected accordingly. However, I hesitate to give specific lower gauge recommendations for safety reasons.
Thanks, PRR, for the voltage drop calculator which should help eldarvanyar to make the required calculations and come to his own conclusions.
Perhaps asking the question, but this time specifically in relation to the RH84 SE amp, in the 'Tubes / Valves' section of the forum will elicate more advice.