Where to purchase wire?

[rsisk]

We get ours from EBAY and have been very happy with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/500-FT-12-AW...AOSw7hRWQir D

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by rsisk

We get ours from EBAY and have been very happy with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/500-FT-12-AW...AOSw7hRWQir D

Be careful about buying wire on eBay, especially marketed toward car audio. If it seems too inexpensive, it is most likely aluminum wire, which is generally a bad idea for this sort of application. In fact, it looks like the very wire you purchased is indeed aluminum wire that is copper clad, which is not the same thing as copper wire. I wouldn't use that if I were you. It used to be banned in the FIRST Robot rules. I couldn't find it in last year's rules, but I didn't look too close. Long story short, use copper wire.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Surprised to hear that. While they do stock a lot of wire, it's often random obscure stuff, because it's surplus, and I always had trouble finding exactly what I wanted there. Maybe more recently they've gotten some new inventory.

They do have a lot of random stuff but they always have 12/2 zipwire when we go there (which admittedly is only ~3x a year).

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Be careful about buying wire on eBay, especially marketed toward car audio. If it seems too inexpensive, it is most likely aluminum wire, which is generally a bad idea for this sort of application. In fact, it looks like the very wire you purchased is indeed aluminum wire that is copper clad, which is not the same thing as copper wire. I wouldn't use that if I were you. It used to be banned in the FIRST Robot rules. I couldn't find it in last year's rules, but I didn't look too close. Long story short, use copper wire.

Thanks for the heads up. Why is Aluminum wire bad?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Thanks for the heads up. Why is Aluminum wire bad?

Less conductivity for a given cross section than copper (~60% less) and significantly more likely to break when bent (much lower ductility).

[MrRoboSteve]

2 conductor automotive speaker wire is the way to go. Be sure you're getting stranded wire.

We order from MCM Electronics:

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...6087-/24-16087

[dardeshna]

Originally Posted by AlexanderLuke

Powerwerx is typically our go-to with any zip cord. I would certainly recommend.

Thanks for all the responses!

My only hesitation about Powerwerx is it looks like we have used of their 12AWG wire in the past, and it is a bit larger in diameter than the 30AMP power pole connector crips, so we always have to cut some of the strands off. If I remember correctly, the 30AMP power poles are rated to fit on 12AWG wire, so the sizing of Powerwerx wire might be a little bit off?

Edit 1: While I'm at it, where to find 22AWG wire? Or more importantly since it is probably on one of the websites already linked, does anyone else even use it or just stick to all 18AWG?

Edit 2: It's possible we were using 10AWG and just didn't know, but curious if anyone else had this issue with powerwerx wire.

[AlexanderLuke]

Originally Posted by dardeshna

My only hesitation about Powerwerx is it looks like we have used of their 12AWG wire in the past, and it is a bit larger in diameter than the 30AMP power pole connector crimps, so we always have to cut some of the strands off. If I remember correctly, the 30AMP power poles are rated to fit on 12AWG wire, so the sizing of Powerwerx wire might be a little bit off?

In my experience, it can be a tad difficult to fit 12AWG in the PP30 connectors, but it can work without cutting down the strands in a 12AWG wire. I like to use the PP45 more often, which is the 45amp crimp and Powerwerx even sells it as a crimp for 10AWG wire, but it's just a bit faster and easier to use when you're having difficulty making the PP30 work with you.

Originally Posted by dardeshna

Edit 1: While I'm at it, where to find 22AWG wire? Or more importantly since it is probably on one of the websites already linked, does anyone else even use it or just stick to all 18AWG?

You can find 18AWG and 22AWG zip cord at Powerwerx.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by dardeshna

My only hesitation about Powerwerx is it looks like we have used of their 12AWG wire in the past, and it is a bit larger in diameter than the 30AMP power pole connector crips, so we always have to cut some of the strands off. If I remember correctly, the 30AMP power poles are rated to fit on 12AWG wire, so the sizing of Powerwerx wire might be a little bit off?

I just checked with Perry (pereichi), who has crimped many (possibly most) of our connections the past three years. He agrees that this is an issue, but the solution is simple - provide very little twist to the strands of the 12AWG wires, and all of the strands will fit in the 30A connector. He also agrees that once you do a severe twist, your only good solution is to bump up to the 45A connector.

[MrRoboSteve]

Originally Posted by dardeshna

Edit 1: While I'm at it, where to find 22AWG wire? Or more importantly since it is probably on one of the websites already linked, does anyone else even use it or just stick to all 18AWG?.

We use 22-2 stranded copper security system cable from Home Depot.

[Travis Covington]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Surprised to hear that. While they do stock a lot of wire, it's often random obscure stuff, because it's surplus, and I always had trouble finding exactly what I wanted there. Maybe more recently they've gotten some new inventory.

They re-stock a lot of wire, components and tools with new inventory (not surplus).

[Labman]

For single (not bonded) wire check out www.tinnedmarinewire.com. They have quality tinned marine wire for less money than lesser wire from other sites.

If you need 6 AWG wire for battery cable, I suggest moving up to "welding cable" with EPDM insulation. It is much more flexible than regular battery cable. Cheapest supplier is www.remybattery.com, where you can order it by the foot.

While you are at the remybattery site, check out their battery terminal covers. The "starter terminal" cover or the "straight or angled" covers beat the heck out using electrical tape.

[dardeshna]

Originally Posted by Labman

If you need 6 AWG wire for battery cable, I suggest moving up to "welding cable" with EPDM insulation. It is much more flexible than regular battery cable. Cheapest supplier is www.remybattery.com, where you can order it by the foot.

Welding cable has worked really well for us this past off season, so +1 agreed. As far as the 12awg wire, looks like we'll be purchasing from powerwerx and trying out 45amp connectors.

[pribusin]

Originally Posted by rsisk

We get ours from EBAY and have been very happy with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/500-FT-12-AW...AOSw7hRWQir D

Be careful when buying speaker wire as it is often labelled as GA and not AWG. The two are NOT equal . If you look in the description of that eBay listing it even says so. Less experienced teams may mistake 16GA equal to 16AWG - it is NOT the same. Make sure your wire is labelled __AWG.

[Foster]

Just got embroiled in a shop project, I need #8/4 copper to set a sub-panel. Recommendations in northern DE? Need 70', sheathed so I can run it along and then through a wall. Would like stranded to make some corners go easier.