Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: frank57 on April 03, 2012, 12:59:46 pm

Title: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: frank57 on April 03, 2012, 12:59:46 pm
What's the best type of wire to use for the ac plug going into the amp?
This one has stranded 1015 22 awg tew  600v.
They didn't twist them and they're cut a little short for me to unsolder and twist.
I was thinking 18 awg teflon?
Title: Re: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: Tsquared on April 03, 2012, 01:41:31 pm
Frank,

If you're going to wire it yourself, why not use a decent 16 guage with a decent black neoprene type jacket? You don't need teflon.  But I wouldn't go smaller that 16 if the cord is longish. And make sure you put a proper grommet/strain relief.

Why not just use a IEC style plug.  It may be easier to cut those out of the chassis than a C shaped hole for the strain relief. I use a dremel with a cutoff wheel to do the rectangular cutout for my IEC recepticles and it works great.

Tod
Title: Re: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: LooseChange on April 03, 2012, 04:35:22 pm
Most power cords are 18ga. That's plenty.
Title: Re: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: frank57 on April 04, 2012, 11:23:07 am
It's for the wire attached to the iec receptacle and the fuse going to the mains.
This old photo shows the wires.
I have a power board above it right now, so I'd like
e to twist them and move them off to the edge.
Title: Re: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: sluckey on April 04, 2012, 11:31:35 am
Just use the same size as the primary wires coming out of the PT.
Title: Re: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: frank57 on April 04, 2012, 01:28:18 pm
I have some 22 awg teflon.Would that be good or should I use the exact same 22awg ul1015 600v that 's in there now?
Title: Re: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: mresistor on April 05, 2012, 05:37:05 pm
Frank - Sluckey's response is a good one. I would use 18ga stranded and insulated wire. I usually have some remnants of that, when ever I trim a cord I keep the wire I snipped off in a ziplock with all the rest of them. I'm sure many of the guys here do similar things. But if it's in the power section I don't think I would go lower than 18ga. That's MHO YMMV.
Cheers 
Title: Re: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: frank57 on April 06, 2012, 07:26:03 am
It's not to replace the plug but the wires attached to the 3 prongs inside the amp.
They used  stranded 1015 22 awg tew  600v.I can't twist it they cut it short.
Would teflon on the hoffman supplies be a good substitute or stick with the same wire?
I can't seem to find it in small amounts anywhere.
Title: Re: Best type of wire for ac into amp?
Post by: tubeswell on April 06, 2012, 08:33:40 am
For combo amps, I go to the local electrical wholesaler and buy a 3-6 metre (yard) mains extn lead and chop the female plug off. These leads are cheaper than what you can make out of separate components, and the plugs are sealed.  For head amps, I use an IEC socket and lead