Solder wire choices ?

Discussion in 'Modding and Hacking - Consoles and Electronics' started by someguy1, Aug 18, 2015.

  1. someguy1

    someguy1 Site Supporter

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    So I got my saturn modchip in the mail without any wires for soldering it to specific points. I do have some 30awg gauge kynar wire which is very thin and would prefer not to use the 30awg and to use around 26awg in the future for mods. I asked around and found out that ide ribbon cables can be stripped (each strand) and some people have said that this works, however after looking closely these ide cable wires are not a single strand wire, instead they are atleast 4-5 little strands of metal instead of 1 rounded one which worries me that maybe it would not make as good as a connection as a 26awg kynar wire would. here are some pictures for illustrations. the first picture is of a single strand of ide cable and 2nd of kynar[​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    most wires found inside of ide cables, ethernet cables, power supply cables, resemble the first image and are not single and rounded like the bottom image of the kynar wire. would all these cables be suitable for modchips even if the wires are not the same shape and form ?
     
  2. MonkeyBoyJoey

    MonkeyBoyJoey 70's Robot Anime GEPPY-X (PS1) Fanatic

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    All of the wires in Cat5e network cables I have cut apart have solid cores. I've only found wires with stranded cores in a couple Audio/Video cables and a power supply cable. VGA cables are supposed to have mini-coaxial wires, which should have solid cores.
     
  3. AmmoJammo

    AmmoJammo Spirited Member

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    You'll be much better off using the ide cable, as its more flexible than the solid core stuff... just twist the strands together ;)

    Although, I'm not sure what this has to do with solder?
     
  4. dc16

    dc16 Dauntless Member

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    I'm still going through a roll of $8 Radioshack Solid Core 22AWG wire. I have nearly depleted my stock of stranded wire, especially when I used a ton when I was obsessed with arcade sticks. I should consider speaker wire at the 99 cent store for ease. But I work near an electronics store, so I'm fine.
     
  5. Adrenaline

    Adrenaline Member

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    Just purchase a proper roll of stranded wire... you just twist and tin it when needed, and it is nice to have it stranded to reduce risk of breaking, but that is irrelevant if soldering a stationary device, as you seem to be. If you have to ask about what wire to use, you need to do more googling on how to solder.
     
  6. APE

    APE Site Supporter 2015

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    You'd be surprised whatever wire you can get away with but some wire is more suitable for certain work than others. Google is your friend.
     
  7. dc16

    dc16 Dauntless Member

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  8. LeHaM

    LeHaM Site Soldier

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    Solid = stationary use IE inside consoles and walls ect
    Stranded = Flex cabling, external stuff like AV cables, things that may bend a lot

    Solid core kaynar wire is what I use for mod chips, very easy to work with and routs well because its solid core. It takes a lot of bending to break it, although still not suitable for flex applications..

    With mod chips and the like, kaynar wire is not good for higher current points such as ground and VCC.

    If you are going to be tinning a lot of wires, invest in a solder pot and some flux
     
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  9. someguy1

    someguy1 Site Supporter

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  10. Zer0-2k11

    Zer0-2k11 Site Supporter 2012,2013,2014,2015

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    Here is a roll of some 100ft 26 AWG Kynar on sale for about 7$ and free shipping if you have amazon prime;

    http://www.amazon.ca/Jonard-Industr...TF8&qid=1439945469&sr=8-3&keywords=26awg+wire

    Jonard Industries wiring is good stuff, used it when i was first starting out, now i get equivalent stuff in bulk. I have used the cheap stuff from china and has a rubbery coating and the insulation burns off quick if you slip with your soldering iron. The wire in the link has a hard coating so if you slip, it won't burn the insultation unless you leave it on there for about 3 secs or so. As long you don't bend it 20-30 times in the same spot and strip it properly, you're ok. Beats the chinese stuff by miles.

    I personally use the stranded stuff for RGB mods as it looks cleaner for that type of work. If you end up getting stranded though, just strip, twist up the strands, tin it and cut the excess.

    For wiring up voltage or ground on modchips, this stuff (24-26 AWG Kynar) is the way to go. For all others connections, use 30 AWG kynar.
     
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2015
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  11. dc16

    dc16 Dauntless Member

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    30AWG Kynar is best for more skilled modders. It's a pain in the butt for more since the wire itself is so thin that I have to tape it down before I can solder it. Also it snaps more easily than the lower gauges. I've only used it in two mods, the region switches for the Gamecube and Sega Genesis 2 (without lifting a pin, but cutting a trace.)
     
  12. bacteria

    bacteria I am the Bacman

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    In my experience, Kynar wire is only good for short distances, up to about 1.5cm max as otherwise things don't behave as they should due to interference. IDE wire works fine but be careful not to pull the cable if stripping the cable to get to the wire as the wire inside can be brittle and snap. Any thin flexible cable is good, I use what appears to be 28awg (we don't use "awg" in the UK as measurement) for all my relocation work. Multi strand cable is better than single strand as single strand tends to be too rigid; just tin the wire ends before soldering to your contacts (tinning = melt solder to the wire to make the strands together as one). When soldering to chip legs, apply a small amount of flux first or your solder joint will be liable to be weak. A good source for cable is from old controller cables if you only want a little and don't want to buy a reel.
     
  13. AmmoJammo

    AmmoJammo Spirited Member

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    I use ribbon cable for nearly all my mods, even if I only need 2 or 3 conductors ;)

    ribbon2.jpg
     

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  14. someguy1

    someguy1 Site Supporter

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    Very interesting, and to think I got rid of a huge bag of old ribbon cables thinking they had no more use.
     
  15. wilykat

    wilykat Site Supporter 2013

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    I have a huge spool of 20 conductor ribbon cable, it was new 500 feet when I got it for a song many years ago. Stranded so it can be a tad messy if someone doesn't solder it the right way.

    I figure I have over 450 feet left. I've used it when I need a lot of wires going the same directions. For some mods where wires are everywhere, I also have a dozen singles 24 AWG wires in assorted colors to work with.
     
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