stranded 18awg vs solid copper 24 awg

[joesphanlu]

I was wondering if stranded 18awg or solid copper 24awg wire would be better for audio signals, also how about for power supply?

 

[TonyTecson]

found this table in the net....

 

[planet10]

I used the latter for audio signal, something thicker (and likely solid) for the DC/power supply.

dave

 

[tomchr]

24 AWG will have considerably higher resistance as it has a smaller cross-sectional area than 18 AWG.

Wikipedia has a table of the diameter for the varies gauges:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge

Tom

 

[planet10]

I would be surprised if the board to the output terminals is even 6".

24g = 0.013Ω
18g = 0.003Ω

A difference of 1/100th of an ohm. Insignificant

(i used this calculator)

But i also use 24g solid for speaker wire … because i found it sounds better.

dave

 

[TonyTecson]

yes, short runs and small gage will work, longer runs need bigger cross sections for obvious reasons....keep losses to a minimum...

 

[joesphanlu]

I would be surprised if the board to the output terminals is even 6".

24g = 0.013Ω
18g = 0.003Ω

A difference of 1/100th of an ohm. Insignificant

(i used this calculator)

But i also use 24g solid for speaker wire … because i found it sounds better.

dave

umm about 3" runs, from the board to a pententiometer and back, with the pententiometer about 1 inch away from the main pcb.

thanks for all the replies guys, i think i will go with the solid copper 24awg for the signal runs, since i ripped them out from ethernet cords, so they are pre twisted, thus i can easily double up the connection. i will go with the 18awg wires for the power, as signal loss isn't as important in it.

 

[planet10]

umm about 3" runs, from the board to a pententiometer and back, with the pententiometer about 1 inch away from the main pcb.

You are only worried about size from the amp to the speaker terminals. With signal levels i could happily use 30g (partly because i have part of a roll of silver coated copper with teflon insulation) or smaller.

dave

 

[Showly]

Wheww.. Thats some serious audiophile ears. Talking about .000xx ohms resitance.!!

 

[danielwritesbac]

Thermostat wire is sturdy solid 20ga copper.
When wire-wrapped around pins or hooked through vias, and then soldered, it doesn't come loose later. It is also available in 5 or 6 colors (inside the brown jacket), and the different colors are useful for organizing.

 

[wwenze]

I tried UTP ethernet cable following some bad advice, didn't work out.

 

[Art M]

Need to be Careful about using Ethernet cable guts. Wire may be Copper coated Steel of the Solid variety. Nice and Strong for Plenum pulls.

 

[danielwritesbac]

Doorbell wire, (cousin of thermostat wire), is 2 conductor and available in 19ga, 20ga, 21ga. Inside the brown jacket, it is typically red and white. Also, nice solid copper.

You can take it out of the jacket and spiral twist it for quality.

There is a need to tie it down, since it might be stronger than the connections.