Speaker wire?

[demonoid369]

I don't think I've heard anyone ask this before, I know Novak has their 12g noodle wire but could you use 12g speaker wire also for like hooking a esc to a motor? Just wondering

[WIDELOAD]

In theory yes...as they both carry electricity...like using a piece of ally foil as a temporary fuse.

But i dont think it would last long under the amp draw that a RC would put on it.

[demonoid369]

So I should just get the novak wire then, who else has wires other than them?

[StreetShaker]

Originally Posted by demonoid369

So I should just get the novak wire then, who else has wires other than them?

EBay. Search 12g silicone wire.

[wantAsummit]

Originally Posted by demonoid369

I don't think I've heard anyone ask this before, I know Novak has their 12g noodle wire but could you use 12g speaker wire also for like hooking a esc to a motor? Just wondering

I have no doubt that it would work just fine, but I would hate to get involved in an argument over it...

[Highlucks]

Novak eats the donkey dick.

Get yourself some deans wire.

or this. Thinner, lighter and still up to the task.

18 ga silicon wire

[papabash]

I have used the speaker wire. A friend was using it and gave me some to try. I like the fact that the 2 wires are joined together, it makes for a neat and tidy wiring job. I quit using it, though, because the solder joints became brittle and kept breaking. It may have been because I use a big ol' honkin' soldering gun and was overheating it, but it's the same gun I use with the RC wires and they don't do that.

[AreCee]

It will work just fine but may not have the same flexibility due to a lower strand count and the insulation may go up in smoke when the load gets high (like in a bind). That would end up shorting the wires, not a good thing.

[forbid89]

Silicone wire works great, it's very flexible. I've bought it here before:

http://www.headsuprc.com/servlet/the...ire/Categories

Pick up some cheap deans and bullet connectors while you are there.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by demonoid369

speaker wire

[pixelnate]

^^^ That's hilarious. And it answers the OP perfectly.

[JohnRobHolmes]

Originally Posted by AreCee

It will work just fine but may not have the same flexibility due to a lower strand count and the insulation may go up in smoke when the load gets high (like in a bind). That would end up shorting the wires, not a good thing.

The low strand count is really the only drawback. If you tie the wires down properly there is no reason that speaker wire won't work. If the wire is getting hot enough to melt plastic or vinyl insulation (180f or more), I would suggest using larger wire instead of relying on silicon insulation to prevent shorts!

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by JohnRobHolmes

The low strand count is really the only drawback. If you tie the wires down properly there is no reason that speaker wire won't work. If the wire is getting hot enough to melt plastic or vinyl insulation (180f or more), I would suggest using larger wire instead of relying on silicon insulation to prevent shorts!

Depends on the speaker wire.
Simple stuff is stiff, a "cable lay" type wire is flexible. Monster makes a flexible "cable lay" type of speaker as do others.
Over time, the PVC used for the insulation will stiffen, but that will take years.
My LHS has several brands & gages of silicone insulated wire so it's easy for me.

[demonoid369]

Originally Posted by JohnRobHolmes

The low strand count is really the only drawback. If you tie the wires down properly there is no reason that speaker wire won't work. If the wire is getting hot enough to melt plastic or vinyl insulation (180f or more), I would suggest using larger wire instead of relying on silicon insulation to prevent shorts!

So any wire I get, it should have a high thread count then? But doesn't that create more resistance with that and with that, more heat? Or am I thinking in larger terms?

[JohnRobHolmes]

The conductivity of the wire does not depend on the strand count, only the cross section of copper if we can assume pure oxygen free copper. The strand count only affects flexibility of the wire. Like solid house wire vs a lamp cord. Basically the same wire, but one is much more flexible than the other.

[forbid89]

Originally Posted by demonoid369

So any wire I get, it should have a high thread count then? But doesn't that create more resistance with that and with that, more heat? Or am I thinking in larger terms?

Here's something you learn pretty early in circuits:

The resistance, R, of a length of wire is described by the expression:

• R = ρL/A

where

• ρ = resistivity of the material composing the wire,
  L = length of the wire, and
  A = area of the conducting cross section of the wire
  

As you can see an increase in the length of wire will increase resistance, similarly increasing the area (ie. bigger gauge wire) causes the resistance over a giver length of wire to decrease. I don't know if anyone was looking for a mathematical explanation but there it is anyways.

[TurboShadow]

I have used it before, on a clod I built years ago. It was 12 gauge with ALOT of strands. Came with a amp kit I had bought. Worked good, made for nice wiring because it was 2 strands hooked together. I plan on using it again on my current build.

[GySgt Hartman]

High end speaker cables employ "skin effect" in their construction. The theory is the electrons travel faster on the surface of the wire than on the inside. Litz wire is constructed with hundreds of small diameter copper wires all individually insulated usually with lacquer, making it nearly impossible to solder without a solder pot.

I remember that BS from back from my days with Audio Research.

But your to answer your question, 12awg from one manufacturer will be equivalent to any other 12awg in terms of current capacity.

[JohnRobHolmes]

Litz would be great for the motor side of the ESC with controllers that switch above 12khz, although the wires would need to be saturated with current before the advantages started to show. Even twin 18ga would be as "litz" as is needed for a very powerful crawler. I'm not sure if it would affect the battery side because of the caps.

Litz would have the benefit of inductance reduction too. I braid or twist my motor wires and twist my power wires to ensure lowest system induction and best punch.

[wonder squirrel]

Hobbyking has high strand count Turnigy wire in various gauges. It was recommended to me by another rcc member. Works every bit as well as Novak and Deans wire at a fraction of the cost. Shipping took about a week too.