What kind of wire do you use?

[Mike A]

I am not sure how useful this topic is, but here it is anyway.

I had to buy a bunch of wire for power transmission (5v) at several points on 2 large PCBs.

Home depot didn't have 18 gauge stranded wire in spools on the shelf.
What I did find was 18 gauge lamp cord on a spool. It comes 18-2 like speaker wire so you have to split the two wires.
It was 42.98 with tax for 250 ft. It is actually 500 ft when you split the wires. That is about 9 cents a foot. Not bad.
The wire seems more flexible than the wire I normally buy. I think it is the insulation. It is thicker, but squishier.
It fit just fine in the pins for my Amp Mate N Lock connectors, and it was really easy to bundle the cables because of the flexibility.
I will include some pics tonight.

I guess what I want to know is if anyone can see a problem with my choice of wire. I haven't been doing this long, and I don't come
from a technical background.

Also, what do other people use?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

[Nephasth]

Stranded. 22 gauge. Black. Think I pay about $40 shipped to my door for 1000'.




...good thing about using speaker wire for power is, you can just twist the wires together and wrap em in tape!
/sarcasm

[Mike A]

Is 22 gauge sufficient for power transmission?

[Nephasth]

You're killing me smalls... "power transmission"...

[Nephasth]

The size of wire you need is determined by the size of the load of the circuit and other factors. But for arcade circuit board repair, 22 gauge should be fine. 18 gauge seems too big for that type of work.

[Nephasth]

And the reason why speaker wire is more flexible than standard wire... finer strands and more of them.

[Mike A]

Thanks. I was just concerned because the 5v pin on my pole position PCB edge connector is fried. That is a common problem with them.

[jennifer]

   Its a bit deeper than random wire.... The short answer is (IMO) automotive grade, since it handles heat better than cheap vinyl, and is abrasion resistant.

[paigeoliver]

I don't think I ever actually bought any wires aside from brand new Jamma harnesses. I have been using wire salvaged from trashed/converted/restored games since day one in the hobby.

[Titchgamer]

I tend to use automotive wire.

I have loads of the stuff knocking about in different sizes.

Though we measure cable in mm2 over here not gauge so couldn’t tell you what sizes they would be lol

[Slippyblade]

I've fallen in love with silicone sheathed wire.  The stuff doesn't melt when soldering!

[drventure]

I think it was knievel that used to use "bell wire". Solid core copper wiring if I recall.

He had several cabinets where in the inside was sprayed black, and he used bright blue bell wire tied down all nice and tidy.

Truly some awesome cab pron if ever there was such a thing 

[tommyinajar]

 Where is the best (cheapest) place to buy 22 awg these days?