extra fine stranded wires.

[RonW]

Anybody know a disadvantage of using these extra thin stranded wires?  They're advertised as automotive wire.

[WintrSol]

Well, they're harder to prepare for use, as stripping takes more care to not cut some strands in the process. Also, 'vampire' splices don't work well, but you don't use those, right?
Once installed, I can't think of any real negatives.

[luftkoph]

Something about the electrons are on the outside of the wire, so the more strands you have the more happy the electrons are, or some kinda thing like that, over my pay grade

[crow]

Always always always, solder all connections period!  with a tin/lead alloy. Wipe off ALL zinc chloride flux with warm soap water. Never will you have a problem

[RonW]

Yes, I remember sumpthin about the electrons running on the outside of wires, so more strands per wire gauge translates into more total surface area for the electrons to travel on like lanes on a highway.

No, I don't use vampire taps. Anymore.

I wasn't aware that wiping off extra flux is a must on soldered wires. I do it anyway but just because the residual flux makes things sticky.

Anyways, I'm dissatisfied with the stranded electrical wires at Home Depot, etc. For instance, a 14g should have 19 strands but the 14g at H.D. have less strands and the strands are thicker. Thicker strands are stiffer making them harder to splice together. If you dissect a Honda wire, you'll find they have more strands than store bought wires per given gauge.

The thinner strand wires I'm talking about have a silicone jacket. They're even referred to as silicone wires for whatever difference that makes. Also, individual strands are tin coated in silicone wires. So, I guess they're better logically.


On some of them the strands might be too thin.



Something like this is ideal. The wires pictured are silcone wire because the strands are tinned.

[RonW]

Fyi, just stumble across this .....

If it's an AC supply stranded wires conduct better because there is an effect called skin effect which makes
the current to flow only through the skin or the outer layer of the wires which makes the solid wire to be less
compatible. For DC supply there is no skin effect.

[98valk]

silicone insulation provides greater electrical insulation, hence the 600v rating.
more stands are more expensive to make verses less strands.
silver coated copper wire more expensive than std copper wire.

yes there are things like skin effect, capacitance, etc., not really needed to know and makes very little difference with just running accessory wires.
all make a difference with spark plug wires though.

[MarkT]

The more the strands, the better the wire will survive flexion before breaking from metal fatigue.  Makes a difference in locations like wires that pass from your frame to your fork / headlight bucket.  I add extra wire in such places, might add a loop to spread the bending out along a greater radius.  I try to buy wire with high strand count - not always available if I'm not in my shop.  NEVER use Scotchloks (never heard them called "vampire" connectors but how appropriate - have a bag of them that came in kits), solder and shrink-wrap all connections.  Sometimes have to use a pig-tail splice due to space limits, and use a wire nut to insulate after soldering.  Don't care for the spade connections on relays, but that's how automotive relays are configured.  At least if your relay fails, you can find a replacement at every auto parts store.  Last count, I installed 21 of them on Jade.  Only one has failed, in the Rostra cruise control circuit (I think the clutch shut-off).  Buy good relays, throw away the garbage ones that come in kits.