Circuitbenders Forum

Circuitbenders Forum => Banter => Topic started by: Rainbowdash on June 12, 2012, 04:40:38 PM

Title: Can someone provide me with information on the right kind of electrical wire?
Post by: Rainbowdash on June 12, 2012, 04:40:38 PM: Today I went curcuit bending shopping at the charity shops and Maplins, an almost successful shop and even got a toy camera which I belive is the same one that the Modified Toy Orchestra use.

Unfortunately I've bought the wrong kind of electrical wiring for my projects, so can somebody please help and provide me with a specific link to the right kind of wire for using on circuit bending kids toys, and if it's ok UK sites please.

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Can someone provide me with information on the right kind of electrical wire?
Post by: Gordonjcp on June 12, 2012, 05:26:55 PM: How can it possibly be the "wrong kind" of wire, unless you've bought something like welding cable?
Title: Re: Can someone provide me with information on the right kind of electrical wire?
Post by: Rainbowdash on June 12, 2012, 05:31:48 PM: Quote from: Gordonjcp on June 12, 2012, 05:26:55 PM
How can it possibly be the "wrong kind" of wire, unless you've bought something like welding cable?

If it's bell wire lol http://www.maplin.co.uk/solid-core-wire-1-0.6-6187 (http://www.maplin.co.uk/solid-core-wire-1-0.6-6187)

I think it's kinda like that one, I'm kinda new to this curcuit bending game lol
Title: Re: Can someone provide me with information on the right kind of electrical wire?
Post by: Bogus Noise on June 13, 2012, 12:52:14 PM: Yeah, solid core is annoying for this kinda work. I accidentally bought a couple of packets of that once from my local components shop, ended up slowly using it up by using it for jumper wires on PCBs and longer pieces to join points on breadboards.

Stranded is the type you're looking for. It's much more flexible. You'll find that the online places like Rapid and JPR are generally much cheaper than Maplins (they charge from 3-15 times more), and BitsBox is good for top ups. A pack of mixed colours of stranded wire should only be a couple of quid, but if you end up doing loads you can save even more by getting one of those bundles of 11 100m reels. I got the second least expensive one on Rapid, the cheapest one has really flimsy plastic and the wire strippers just tear loads of it off!

There are various guages, but I think 7/0.2 is the most common (7 strands of 0.2mm each), but some people on here like to use 14/0.1. I'm tempted to try that out, as I imagine it'd be a lot less likely to tear your fingers up after a few days solid work!
Title: Re: Can someone provide me with information on the right kind of electrical wire?
Post by: Circuitbenders on June 13, 2012, 06:44:21 PM: take a look at the getting started thread http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,509.0.html (http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,509.0.html)

Theres some tips on stuff you might need in there.

Theres also a suppliers list on this thread http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,275.0.html (http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,275.0.html) . Anyone got any new ones?
Title: Re: Can someone provide me with information on the right kind of electrical wire?
Post by: selfpreservation on June 14, 2012, 08:04:34 AM: I have been using Ethernet utp cable lately , I used to buy wire then I realised I had a limitless supply of it for free on my work van. , it's really thin as well never had an issue with it , just chop off the required length and hey presto 8 lengths of different coloured wire