Anyone Know Where to Find Decent Wire?

[Jamoy]

This may come off as a bit of a rant, appolies in advance. I have looked for wire for a few days now and i am struggling to find anything that fits my current criteria. I was wondering if anyone knows anywhere to get decent 16AWG wire from?  All websites are either buy in bulk, 300m spools for about a grand. Or silicone stuff that i dont really want to use inside of a gearbox since its a nightmare to keep in place. Ebay has stuff mostly from china and i dont feel like waiting for 4 weeks for some wire. Airsoft retailers either have only one colour or are out of stock. Some sites are what i beleive to be overpriced for a meter of wire as well, from 5 - 10 quid. The chinese stuff is between 1 - 2 pounds per meter.

Ideally wire that is

16AWG

PTFE or simmilar coating

Silver Plated

Reasonably priced (1 - 2 pounds per meter)

Able to reach UK within a few Days

Red and Black (Clear if strand is inside to know polarity)

I was also thinking of travelling to some local hardware / hobby stores to see if they have any suitable wires. Does B&Q / Screwfix etc stock any wires that are small enough for airsoft use?

Any suggestions guys?

 

[Chev Chelios]

I have been using https://www.componentshop.co.uk/ since 2004 always had amazing service from them.

 

[Jamoy]

I have been using https://www.componentshop.co.uk/ since 2004 always had amazing service from them.

Thanks mate il take a gander...

 

[DrAlexanderTobacco]

Seconding ComponentShop, though I always use them for batteries. Fantastic business.

 

[Jamoy]

Had a wee look, their prices on their wire are outstanding. It is Silicone coated though. At that price it might be worth a shot.

 

[Ropeyshep]

If you want to stay local, try your local automotive electrical factor (not Halfords or Autosave), for you, maybe these guys? https://www.cef.co.uk/stores/glenrothes

 

[ak2m4]

Had a wee look, their prices on their wire are outstanding. It is Silicone coated though. At that price it might be worth a shot.

The outer diameter is 3.1mm, personally I don't like using anything larger than 2mm.  Super flexible but large, can be tricky to run inside a V2 gearbox

 

[Sitting Duck]

The outer diameter is 3.1mm, personally I don't like using anything larger than 2mm.  Super flexible but large, can be tricky to run inside a V2 gearbox

Pete - minor suggestion you might wish to consider....

sell Alpha eco wire 6716 16awg by the metre perhaps ???

stiff resilient wire with big csa for max transfer of power

stiff wall - don't try 14awg - that is stiff as fuck, but 16awg is do-able

run the alpha from motor/box to say rear mosfet in buffer tube

then use bendy silicone stuff to run mosfet to Lipo

(if you want best of both worlds solution, or just use Alpha with little/no breaks/joins)

watch out silicone tears easy on casings of gearbox and stuff and should be sleeved to protect the silicone splitting

but Alpha is highly rated on places like Airsoft Society (US forum)

 

[ak2m4]

Pete - minor suggestion you might wish to consider....

sell Alpha eco wire 6716 16awg by the metre perhaps ???

 
thanks dude, I did grab a large 50m spool of that wire a couple of years ago, pretty sure it was 16awg.... however I sent it back as I didn't think much of the quality.  I can't remember what exactly was wrong with it now though...it was certainly a decent price and only 2mm OD

I've got some new stuff coming from China that I'm trialing but maybe it's worth selling that as a cheaper alternative.

@Sitting Duck have you tried it?  Be interested to know your thoughts

 

[Asomodai]

Pete - minor suggestion you might wish to consider....

sell Alpha eco wire 6716 16awg by the metre perhaps

I second that motion! Dooooo eeeeet!!

 

[ak2m4]

I second that motion! Dooooo eeeeet!!

have you tried it? how'd you get on with it?  

 

[Asomodai]

have you tried it? how'd you get on with it?  

Its the only wire that I can use on a mosfet built on a V2 that is thin enough to not get chewed up, but Carrys enough current for high speed builds. 

 

[Sitting Duck]

 
thanks dude, I did grab a large 50m spool of that wire a couple of years ago, pretty sure it was 16awg.... however I sent it back as I didn't think much of the quality.  I can't remember what exactly was wrong with it now though...it was certainly a decent price and only 2mm OD

I've got some new stuff coming from China that I'm trialing but maybe it's worth selling that as a cheaper alternative.

@Sitting Duck have you tried it?  Be interested to know your thoughts

It is a tiny bit stiffer than regular wire but is due to thin but very robust nyrol/mPPE insulation

which means you get 3mm silicone wire in 2.1mm thick wire

(though to be honest some 16awg might have up to 30x.25 strands (specs do vary)

& Alpha is 26 x 0.25mm strands, so a whisker less than some high spec 16awg wire, but 16awg varies

but c'mon, if space is tight like in V2 channels, you get the spec without the grind(ing of channel etc...)

A word of advice - 14awg Alpha is fucking stiff, much stiffer than the 16awg

& I'd only ever consider it on ultra thirsty builds like a really really insane DSG for example - so go for 16awg imho

(the 14awg is a c*nt to work with if you need wire to bend in say a v2 pistol grip, but 16awg is perfect)

an idea of how it compares - 18awg example...

View attachment 59129

 

[ak2m4]

thanks chaps, I'll give it a go.  have ordered a couple of rolls and will put it onto the website.  I'll do a test / comparison video when my other stuff arrives as well

 

[ak2m4]

Got some 2 metre packs (red and black) on the website now, it's definitely less flexible than the ptfe insulated 16awg wire but that can also be a good thing, it's certainly improved since I last tried it - impressed with it for the price.  Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[DerDer]

Have a LCT AK which is a bit snug with the wiring , in part due to a dummy bolt.   Will give the Alpha stuff a go. 

 

[ak2m4]

Have a LCT AK which is a bit snug with the wiring , in part due to a dummy bolt.   Will give the Alpha stuff a go. 

The outer diameter is just a smidge over 2mm, what's the OD of the current wire?

View attachment 59308

 

[DerDer]

Around the 2.5 mm mark. One or two spots where it has a bit of heat shrink thrown on, so bit thicker again there. 

Seems like it will do the trick.