What is the proper gauge wire to use in a 5v mod? Is it better to use solid or stranded core wire?
I did a search and found no answer.
Thanks!
I did a search and found no answer.
Thanks!
Wire Gauge for Mods
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Good question....I use 28 gauge solid core because I prefer to work with it. I haven't noticed any difference from when I used to use 24 gauge stranded but it would be good to know definitively if it matters for our purpose.
I've been using 22 stranded, but I think I'll step it up to 24..
I'd like to know what the ideal gauge is.
I'd like to know what the ideal gauge is.
Cat 5 cable is usually 24 ga. I prefer stranded to solid due to the possibility of movement/vibration. Not a huge issue, I'm sure. It's also a bit easier to move parts around with stranded wire, if needed.
I used the (admittedly) lightweight (probably 26-28 ga) wire that's part of the battery junction boxes recommended for the nicosticks. I've also got some 22-24 stranded that I'll probably start using.
I used the (admittedly) lightweight (probably 26-28 ga) wire that's part of the battery junction boxes recommended for the nicosticks. I've also got some 22-24 stranded that I'll probably start using.
What do you mean by step it up?
The higher the number for wire gauges, indicates a smaller wire diameter. eg. 36 gauge is very small wire, where 8 gauge is a very large diameter wire.
Yeah I know, that doesn't sound right. I know the higher the number the thinner the wire. I find 22 a tad heavy, and the box wire too light, I reckon 24 should be just right.
I think this was meant to be funny. I hope so at least, it gave me a chuckle.....8-o
Unless ......... , maybe he is running his atty straight from a 110 outlet.. LOL
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High-voltage I would use 26 solid-core minimum and 24 for stranded. 28 solid core or 26 stranded is good enough for single-cell unboosted, but is not going to handle that much current without losing voltage even in runs this short. Not to mention that 30 AWG wire has no mechanical strength to speak of.
--Dave
--Dave
Can i ask? Why if recommended 26-24 awg wire for high voltage do some manufatures swear by higher(lower) awg wire for passthroughs?
keep in mind, the bigger gauge the wire, the higher current flow. I realize that there is a point where bigger doesn't get you more, but I have lots of 14 awg speaker wire laying around and that's what I used. Stranded wire.
I had a look at a site that calculates voltage drop based on wire gauge, material, length, voltage and amps. Turns out the the difference between 26 and 28 gauge wire is 2/100th of a volt.
Total drop for 28 gauge at 2 amps and 6 volts was 0.067v.
Not all that concerned
Total drop for 28 gauge at 2 amps and 6 volts was 0.067v.
Not all that concerned
I'm actually working off the "chassis wiring" column of this chart, which gives fairly conservative values, and using the +2 rule for stranded vs. solid (treat stranded wire the same as solid wire 2 gauge sizes higher).
Could you use smaller? Sure. But then you've got less cushion to allow for a wire getting crimped, twisted, etc. It's the *thinnest* point on a wire run that determines when or if it will fail.
--Dave
Could you use smaller? Sure. But then you've got less cushion to allow for a wire getting crimped, twisted, etc. It's the *thinnest* point on a wire run that determines when or if it will fail.
--Dave
Thats the exact same page I grabbed my values from
The mods I build have no moving parts, are sealed permanently closed and I make sure the wires don't crimp but I understand your point for general use. I did add some 26 gauge wire that should arrive tomorrow with the latest box of goodies from digikey. I'm going to build one with 26 gauge to see how it is to work with. I found 24 to be overkill for the short distances required by most mods.
you also need to account for amp hours rating of wires. I'm a noob so I have no idea how many mAH a typical atty pulls, but that's where the bigger wire makes a big difference, you can pull 250 volts on a 28 gw wire, but probably only 1/4 of an amp.
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