Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

18watt-specific Tech Talk - Building, Fixing, Parts, Mods...

Moderators: CurtissRobin, colossal, zaphod_phil, Daviedawg, Graydon

Post Reply
User avatar
davemojo
Occasional poster
Occasional poster
Posts: 161
Joined: Wed 01/06/21 4:14 am
Location: Hoofddorp
Contact:

Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

Post by davemojo »

Hi All

The first build seems successful completing tests but I am already thinking the next build.

This time I want to change few things, like resistors, either carbon film or Metal Film I wanna see the difference and judge that myself since I have heard contradictory opinions.

I won't longer soldering on pot even if there is an easy and successful technique to avoid pot damages so that could be accomplished but that's ok.

Now wires questions

I used vintage cloth wires, yes beautiful look, but in my opinion is just look

What about normal silicon electric wires? 22 awg for heater wires?
18 awg for the other wires would that work fine what do you recommend guys?
The colors I use are Yellow a lot, Green for the ground, black and white for heater some people uses red and black

Your thoughts please advise and best practice are welcome
0 x
Davide Violante
Rockers&Rocks
www.rockers.rocks

User avatar
Bieworm
Verbose Moderator
Verbose Moderator
Posts: 2287
Joined: Mon 02/10/20 8:24 am
Location: Belgium

Re: Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

Post by Bieworm »

Edited
Last edited by Bieworm on Sun 04/11/21 11:35 am, edited 2 times in total.
0 x
"THIS should be played at high volume..preferably in a residential area"

User avatar
Bieworm
Verbose Moderator
Verbose Moderator
Posts: 2287
Joined: Mon 02/10/20 8:24 am
Location: Belgium

Re: Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

Post by Bieworm »

What amp are you thinking of building?
I always use silicon wires from tube town Germany. I've had good experience with their transformers too. In fact, everything I buy there is best in price and good quality.
For an 18W I pay less than 100€ for the power and output transformers together.
1 x
"THIS should be played at high volume..preferably in a residential area"

User avatar
davemojo
Occasional poster
Occasional poster
Posts: 161
Joined: Wed 01/06/21 4:14 am
Location: Hoofddorp
Contact:

Re: Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

Post by davemojo »

Bieworm wrote:
Sun 04/11/21 10:49 am
What amp are you thinking of building?
I always use silicon wires from tube town Germany. I've had good experience with their transformers too. In fact, everything I buy there is best in price and good quality.
For an 18W I pay less than 100€ for the power and output transformers together.
I am going to build 1x 18 watts, basically same Amp, but with some variations on they way I built the first one. Since I do have now some little experience, compared with none from before, thanks to all of you guys and thanks to the first project, I can try to use different ways to build it.

Also the first one will be used with the Organ, this one with my guitar. I am planning to play guitar again I abandoned the instrument years ago. I was 18 to 26 when I first played guitar, after that I started with Keyboards

I bought for this second built almost all parts between Tonefactory, since they local to me and fast delivery, and Tube-town, I got the PT and OT from tube-Town, both for, if I am not wrong for 108 Euros or something like that, this time I am doing the right things since I understand how and where to get parts

Thanks for your kind reply
Last edited by davemojo on Sun 04/11/21 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
0 x
Davide Violante
Rockers&Rocks
www.rockers.rocks

User avatar
JMPGuitars
Super Duper Admin
Super Duper Admin
Posts: 3954
Joined: Tue 09/18/12 8:00 pm
Location: South Central, MA
Contact:

Re: Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

Post by JMPGuitars »

I use PTFE or PVC insulated wire. 18AWG for power transformer, IEC socket, and power switches only. 20AWG everywhere else.

22AWG is fine for heaters if you want, but I wouldn't go thinner than that.

Thanks,
Josh
1 x
'I installed a skylight in my apartment yesterday... The people who live above me are furious.' - Steven Wright

Modern Ground Schemes
Soldering Technique
B+ Voltage Reduction
Amplifier Tools & Parts Info


Web Design: DolceVittoria.com
Guitars / Amps / Effects: JMPGuitars.com
(anti)Social: Facebook · Instagram
Items for Sale

User avatar
davemojo
Occasional poster
Occasional poster
Posts: 161
Joined: Wed 01/06/21 4:14 am
Location: Hoofddorp
Contact:

Re: Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

Post by davemojo »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Sun 04/11/21 1:10 pm
I use PTFE or PVC insulated wire. 18AWG for power transformer, IEC socket, and power switches only. 20AWG everywhere else.

22AWG is fine for heaters if you want, but I wouldn't go thinner than that.

Thanks,
Josh
Thanks Josh

I bought both 20awg and 18awg PVC insulated.
1 x
Davide Violante
Rockers&Rocks
www.rockers.rocks

User avatar
JMPGuitars
Super Duper Admin
Super Duper Admin
Posts: 3954
Joined: Tue 09/18/12 8:00 pm
Location: South Central, MA
Contact:

Re: Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

Post by JMPGuitars »

davemojo wrote:
Sun 04/11/21 1:16 pm
Thanks Josh

I bought both 20awg and 18awg PVC insulated.

No problem.

Be careful when you first start using the PVC wire. Some PVC wires have higher heat resistance than others. Good soldering technique is important to avoid melting the insulation.
1 x
'I installed a skylight in my apartment yesterday... The people who live above me are furious.' - Steven Wright

Modern Ground Schemes
Soldering Technique
B+ Voltage Reduction
Amplifier Tools & Parts Info


Web Design: DolceVittoria.com
Guitars / Amps / Effects: JMPGuitars.com
(anti)Social: Facebook · Instagram
Items for Sale

User avatar
zaphod_phil
Builder, Admin
Builder, Admin
Posts: 15208
Joined: Wed 03/19/03 2:00 am
Location: YYZ

Re: Vintage cloth wires vs Silicon electric wire and what sizes 18AWG or 22 AWG

Post by zaphod_phil »

When I was at Trinity Amps, we used single-core 20 gauge for heater wiring and 22 gauge for "hook-up"

HTH
1 x
Nature abhors a clean tube amp

Post Reply