Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Platefire on October 25, 2016, 11:08:20 am

Title: Hook up Wire Question?
Post by: Platefire on October 25, 2016, 11:08:20 am

A friend gave me some hook up wire from changing out a florescent light ballast. It looks just the right size and the solid core wire looks like solid copper. The wire is a little stiff for bending compared to Doug's but think it's may be still usable.

Is there any reason this wouldn't be good for amp wiring other than being a little stiff to work with? Platefire

Title: Re: Hook up Wire Question?
Post by: shooter on October 25, 2016, 11:37:32 am

I use old ballast wires, they are thick, but hold shape well, never had a problem, be carful when striping not to nic solid wire.

Title: Re: Hook up Wire Question?
Post by: sluckey on October 25, 2016, 11:58:51 am

I use it too... for things like small buss bars or when I need a stiff jumper. I like the tin plated stuff. Don't care for the bare copper.

Title: Re: Hook up Wire Question?
Post by: PRR on October 25, 2016, 01:57:30 pm

That will work. Obviously it can be so old the plastic is cracking (I don't want to go near the ex-school fixtures in my garage). Even the "tinned" stuff may be so oxidized you can NOT solder it excellently without fiddly sandpaper or scraping.

Title: Re: Hook up Wire Question?
Post by: Platefire on October 25, 2016, 08:04:25 pm

Thank you very much for your replies! I get the feeling this is not
A first choice option. I thought the solid copper would be really desirable.
I'll use it as a backup, if I run out of my regular hook up would use a piece
To complete a project. Platefire

Title: Re: Hook up Wire Question?
Post by: eleventeen on October 25, 2016, 08:10:12 pm

Usable. Might have trouble getting the wire through a 9-pin tube lug. Some wire does not like to be soldered, the insulation will melt back and produce an unsightly gap between the solder joint and where the end of the insulation ends up. So...you move the end of the insulation closer to the solder joint---which makes it worse.

Title: Re: Hook up Wire Question?
Post by: Platefire on October 25, 2016, 10:52:18 pm

Awe it's plenty small enough to go through a nine pin solder eye. Same size solid core as my regular hook up wire--just more stiff. Guess the way to know for sure is just perform a little soldering test to some old components to see how it goes before you actually use it on a job. Platefire

BTW-Afterthought on the 9 pin solder term eye. It wouldn't be to much problem hooking it up and soldering but because of the stiffness of the copper you would probably destroy the term if you even had to de-solder and remove it.