[GreenKeys] Re: Miracles by RF CONNECTIONS...

[Jeffrey Angus]

> Question (so basic I'm embarrassed to ask). The specs call for me to use
> AWG 22 stranded wire. I have some AWG 18 solid lying around. There isn't
> much current running on these wires as they are mostly 28V control lines
> and the like.
> 
> I'd like to not do this wiring job twice...Should I hold out and get
> some 22 stranded? Or should the 18 solid be ok?
> 
> I guess the real question is, other than the flexibility of stranded,
> are there any other electrical properties that might make someone choose
> stranded over solid (assuming the same gauge).

Rule number 1: Never use solid wire unless it's point to point. And not
going to be subjected to vibration, flexing, strain etc.

I doubt seriously they are using the wire guage to drop a specific voltage
in the cable (Like the old resistance type line cords on radios from the 
early '30s.)

The biggest problem between #18 and #22 guage wire is that #18 is about
1.6 times the diameter of #22 wire and may not fit properly in the connector
solder cups.

Another Aerospace horror story:

We re-worked some power cables for a 5 V 75 amp power supply and 
increased the wire gauge from #16 to #10. To get it to fit in the solder
cups on the connectors, we had to trim several strands off. When we
submitted the changes to the vendor, their engineer called us and asked
"Are you using some special #10 gauge wire? It won't fit in the solder
cups on the connector."

Jeff-1.0
wa6fwi