28 AWG wire?

[Andy]

Hi,

I plan to use Ultimarc I-PAC and Opti-PAC interfaces for my PC control panel.  I have some 28 AWG wire that I was planning to use to wire the controls on the CP.  Will this work with all connections, or will I absolutely NEED something fatter for the ground and +5v?  Thanks in advance!

Andy

[JustMichael]

It will work.  You will probably have to fold the wire over onto itself before crimping on a quick disconnect though.

[rampy]

I have a *dumb* follow up question (a 2 parter)

which way does the AWG scale go?

i.e. Is a bigger number a thinner core wire or is a smaller AWG a smaller wire?

What is the most common AWG used in wiring cp.  I think I used 22 on half of mine and was a little dissapointed in the durability of it.

Thanks,

rampy

[JustMichael]

which way does the AWG scale go?

the bigger the number, the smaller the wire.

What is the most common AWG used in wiring cp.

Whatever wire is found on hand (I ripped open some bad Cat5 cables for the wire). If someone buys some usually it is between 18-26.

I think I used 22 on half of mine and was a little dissapointed in the durability of it.

The "durability" of it???  Once you wire your control panel you shouldn't be pulling on the wires to the controls after that.  If you have multiple control panels, I would recommend you wire the controls to a barrier strip and then wire your connecting cable to the other side of the barrier strip.  This will prevent pulling on the wires going to the actual controls.

Also stranded wire tends to break less than solid core.

[rampy]

I think I used 22 on half of mine and was a little dissapointed in the durability of it.

The "durability" of it???  Once you wire your control panel you shouldn't be pulling on the wires to the controls after that.  If you have multiple control panels, I would recommend you wire the controls to a barrier strip and then wire your connecting cable to the other side of the barrier strip.  This will prevent pulling on the wires going to the actual controls.

Also stranded wire tends to break less than solid core.

Thank you for the info...  What I meant re: durabilty is that if I "nicked" the solid core wire will stripping it, it would be very susceptible to metal fatigue... For example it would break off when doing a simple braid to another wire for insertion into the quick disconnects.

Is stranded wire better for this sort of thing... my first reaction would be the oppposite.. but my latest experience makes me wonder.

FWIW the block terminal is a good idea, and I'm already using them for my project. =)

Thanks again!

rampy

[Tiger-Heli]

I think I used 22 on half of mine and was a little dissapointed in the durability of it.

The "durability" of it???  Once you wire your control panel you shouldn't be pulling on the wires to the controls after that.  If you have multiple control panels, I would recommend you wire the controls to a barrier strip and then wire your connecting cable to the other side of the barrier strip.  This will prevent pulling on the wires going to the actual controls.

Also stranded wire tends to break less than solid core.

Thank you for the info...  What I meant re: durabilty is that if I "nicked" the solid core wire will stripping it, it would be very susceptible to metal fatigue... For example it would break off when doing a simple braid to another wire for insertion into the quick disconnects.

Is stranded wire better for this sort of thing... my first reaction would be the oppposite.. but my latest experience makes me wonder.

FWIW the block terminal is a good idea, and I'm already using them for my project. =)

Thanks again!

rampy

I prefer stranded wire.  And it's been debated here in the forum before and most people usually picked the stranded wire.

It's harder to strip, though.  What I mean is your "nicks" that were causing the solid wire to break would probably cut half the strands straight through on stranded wire, making it able to carry less current.

In response to the first question, I am planning to use DB25 cable to connect my I-PAC to the panel.  The internal wire on this is all 28 AWG and the thinnest wire is the limiting factor, so I think you'll be fine.  (The above means if the DB25 using 28 AWG, I don't gain anything significant by using 12 AWG from the Terminal strips to the buttons).