Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: joesatch on September 17, 2021, 05:10:50 pm

Title: Buss wire
Post by: joesatch on September 17, 2021, 05:10:50 pm
I have bought this 20ga buss wire. This wire is THIN and i am apprehensive to use it for amp builds. I built a kit amp a few years back and the included buss wire was 3 times this thickness.  Anyone use this?

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/wire-bus-100-foot-spool-tinned-copper (https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/wire-bus-100-foot-spool-tinned-copper)

Title: Re: Buss wire
Post by: joesatch on September 17, 2021, 05:24:55 pm
looks like this is pedal buss wire. doggit
Title: Re: Buss wire
Post by: sluckey on September 17, 2021, 05:26:45 pm
I use 24 AWG for board jumpers and to lace turrets together. And I use 17 gauge for pot buss.
Title: Re: Buss wire
Post by: labb on September 17, 2021, 06:27:43 pm
Well, 20 ga. is 20 ga. If you think it is too light, take two or three strands, put the ends together in a drill and twist them together...Make it as thick as you like.
Title: Re: Buss wire
Post by: mresistor on September 17, 2021, 08:58:45 pm
check out the guage of wire on components like resistors and capacitors   ---   20ga is fine for buss wire. double it up if you're worried .


Here  look at this chart and tell me   are you going to exceed the max current of a 20 guage wire in a guitar amp?


 https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wire-gauges-d_419.html


https://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm (https://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm)
Title: Re: Buss wire
Post by: EL34 on September 18, 2021, 07:21:23 am
I have bought this 20ga buss wire. This wire is THIN and i am apprehensive to use it for amp builds. I built a kit amp a few years back and the included buss wire was 3 times this thickness.  Anyone use this?

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/wire-bus-100-foot-spool-tinned-copper (https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/wire-bus-100-foot-spool-tinned-copper)


20 gauge wire is perfect for bus wire
24 is great also

https://hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/catalog/parts18.htm



Title: Re: Buss wire
Post by: Fresh_Start on September 18, 2021, 11:51:16 pm
I have used common house wire (12 ga. ?) for a ground buss. Not for electrical reasons but mechanical. My boards have 2 eyelets at either end of the preamp.  I put the buss wire through the eyelet, making a Z above and below board for mechanical anchor and then solder it in place. This way I have a nice, rigid ground buss running along the edge of the board. Connections come from board and from pots. One chassis ground by input jack(s).

It is not convenient to have to tin the buss using flux for each connection, but it’s worked well for over a decade in 3 builds. Is it overkill?  Probably.

Chip