Welcome To the Hoffman Amplifiers Forum

September 08, 2025, 10:06:15 am
guest image
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
-User Name
-Password



Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Hook up Wire Question?  (Read 1882 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Platefire

  • SMG
  • Level 5
  • *****
  • Posts: 5448
  • How many tube amps do you need? One more!
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Hook up Wire Question?
« 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

On the right track now<><

Offline shooter

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 11016
  • Karma Loves haters
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Hook up Wire Question?
« Reply #1 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.
Went Class C for efficiency

Offline sluckey

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 5075
    • Sluckey Amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Hook up Wire Question?
« Reply #2 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.
A schematic, layout, and hi-rez pics are very useful for troubleshooting your amp. Don't wait to be asked. JUST DO IT!

Offline PRR

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 17082
  • Maine USA
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Hook up Wire Question?
« Reply #3 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.

Offline Platefire

  • SMG
  • Level 5
  • *****
  • Posts: 5448
  • How many tube amps do you need? One more!
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Hook up Wire Question?
« Reply #4 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
On the right track now<><

Offline eleventeen

  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 2229
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Hook up Wire Question?
« Reply #5 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.

Offline Platefire

  • SMG
  • Level 5
  • *****
  • Posts: 5448
  • How many tube amps do you need? One more!
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Hook up Wire Question?
« Reply #6 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.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2016, 10:01:57 am by Platefire »
On the right track now<><

 


Choose a link from the
Hoffman Amplifiers parts catalog
Mobile Device
Catalog Link
Yard Sale
Discontinued
Misc. Hardware
What's New Board Building
 Parts
Amp trim
Handles
Lamps
Diodes
Hoffman Turret
 Boards
Channel
Switching
Resistors Fender Eyelet
 Boards
Screws/Nuts
Washers
Jacks/Plugs
Connectors
Misc Eyelet
Boards
Tools
Capacitors Custom Boards
Tubes
Valves
Pots
Knobs
Fuses/Cords Chassis
Tube
Sockets
Switches Wire
Cable


Handy Links
Tube Amp Library
Tube Amp
Schematics library
Design a custom Eyelet or
Turret Board
DIY Layout Creator
File analyzer program
DIY Layout Creator
File library
Transformer Wiring
Diagrams
Hoffmanamps
Facebook page
Hoffman Amplifiers
Discount Program