Bulk Wire?
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From: Atlanta, GA
Bulk Wire?
What is the catagory of wire that used in automotive applications?
I work for an electrical distributor in sales (but in low voltage division). I'd like to get a few bulk rolls of 10-16 AWG wire to use for projects, etc; but we only stock normal residential and commercial wire for homes and businesses (THHN, XHHW, etc) Is this wire OK to use? I notice its not as flexible.
I work for an electrical distributor in sales (but in low voltage division). I'd like to get a few bulk rolls of 10-16 AWG wire to use for projects, etc; but we only stock normal residential and commercial wire for homes and businesses (THHN, XHHW, etc) Is this wire OK to use? I notice its not as flexible.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
few things different.
Stranded commerical wire ( in Chicago anything but residential is required to have stranged wire used ) is 90* C rated.
This means the chart at which the AMP load vs. temp is different then automotive. The higher the temp the lower the AMP load is on the wire. Standard residential solid wire is rated at 70* F ( 22 * C ) with a run less then 150' ( round trip, neutral included in the distance run ), and slotted into standard breaker / fuse ranges ( 14 AWG is actually good for 18 AMPs@ 70*/150', but there is no 18 AMP fuse for residential, so 15 A it is ).
Stranded Automotive wire is 105*C rated wire, and the kneel off at the higher end is a bit different, I think due to the metalic content used to get the additional 15* C max temp range out of the wire. The max load is rated on shorter distances, and looks much higher then residential, but this is due to higher max heat range, and shorter distances ( 150' is quite a few trips around the park on a truck ).
The other, you have already posted on, is the strand count. Auto wire has more strands of smaller size for a given AWG. So while 14 AWG auto might have 16 strands, THHN / TW is somewhere around 12 I think ( think it is a 40% increase in strand count, with smaller strands ). In standard Electrical, there are cord type of this, but it costs a bundle. 12/# SO cord is quite large, and unforgiving for bending. SOJW 12/3 cord is much smaller ( outer jacket diameter ) much more flexiable, and lighter, but costs about 50% more per foot then 12/3 SO cord. Reason is they make it out of Automotive type wire, smaller strands, and more of them to get the flexiability.
Every priced 105* 14/2 jacket wire. I got a roll, and at the time it was almost double 14/2 flat zip cord type wire ( the stuff that looks like lamp cord in 14 AWG ).
Those are the major items I can think of with Automotive to Electrical wire, I know I am missing one other item, that I am drawing a blank on at the moment.
Stranded commerical wire ( in Chicago anything but residential is required to have stranged wire used ) is 90* C rated.
This means the chart at which the AMP load vs. temp is different then automotive. The higher the temp the lower the AMP load is on the wire. Standard residential solid wire is rated at 70* F ( 22 * C ) with a run less then 150' ( round trip, neutral included in the distance run ), and slotted into standard breaker / fuse ranges ( 14 AWG is actually good for 18 AMPs@ 70*/150', but there is no 18 AMP fuse for residential, so 15 A it is ).
Stranded Automotive wire is 105*C rated wire, and the kneel off at the higher end is a bit different, I think due to the metalic content used to get the additional 15* C max temp range out of the wire. The max load is rated on shorter distances, and looks much higher then residential, but this is due to higher max heat range, and shorter distances ( 150' is quite a few trips around the park on a truck ).
The other, you have already posted on, is the strand count. Auto wire has more strands of smaller size for a given AWG. So while 14 AWG auto might have 16 strands, THHN / TW is somewhere around 12 I think ( think it is a 40% increase in strand count, with smaller strands ). In standard Electrical, there are cord type of this, but it costs a bundle. 12/# SO cord is quite large, and unforgiving for bending. SOJW 12/3 cord is much smaller ( outer jacket diameter ) much more flexiable, and lighter, but costs about 50% more per foot then 12/3 SO cord. Reason is they make it out of Automotive type wire, smaller strands, and more of them to get the flexiability.
Every priced 105* 14/2 jacket wire. I got a roll, and at the time it was almost double 14/2 flat zip cord type wire ( the stuff that looks like lamp cord in 14 AWG ).
Those are the major items I can think of with Automotive to Electrical wire, I know I am missing one other item, that I am drawing a blank on at the moment.
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Originally Posted by SSpiro
Thanks for the post, appreciate it.
I called one of my vendors and they quoted me $130.00/m DISTRIBUTOR COST..
Kinda crazy price.
I called one of my vendors and they quoted me $130.00/m DISTRIBUTOR COST..
Kinda crazy price.
www.wireconnections.com
The other that seems not to bad ( think I got this from Joe ?? )
www.wiringproducts.com
Dad could not get Auto wire from the electrical supply house, at least in 50' spools ( Cresent Electric ). If you guys might start stocking it ( don't know if the boss is up for this ) let me know.
