PVC Hook Up Wire Facts – Polyvinyl Chloride Lead Wires

Cables and wires are primarily used to transmit electrical energy from its main source to the various users in different places. Long before wireless telecommunication was invented, wires and cables were used to transmit information from place to place and from continent to continent.  There was a cable that connected Europe and South America.  With man’s various inventions and innovations of things that had help him lighten his work and load, different types of wires with different types of materials were also invented to accommodate its various uses. 

One of these wires that are widely used nowadays is the PVC Hook Up wire.  Hook up wire is a standard conductor wire that is primarily made of copper with tin and is stranded.  Tin is basically added for easier soldering since it is primarily used in wiring a mechanism with point to point connection even if it can hamper a little the conductivity of the copper.

A PVC Hook Up wire is primarily used in the manufacturing industry especially in the appliance sector since it is used in the internal wiring of the various products that these companies are manufacturing.  This type of wire is using smaller AWG which had made this wire more flexible as compared to the other wires available in the market today.  It is also known to use lesser voltage as compared to the wires used to transmit electricity.  A PVC Hook Up wire is not a high temperature lead wire and it is only used in internal settings.  Exposing it to water, solvents and oil can cause irreparable damage to it.  Use a different type of wire if you have plan of using the material where it is installed in an outdoor setting especially if it is constantly exposed to the elements.

PVC Hook Up wire is available in different colors and in different voltages.  You can purchase these wires by meter or by spools.  There are a number of online stores that are selling these materials.  These online stores are offering free shipping to its customers if the said customer had purchase materials with amount higher than $250.  You can ask the seller to customize the color of the wire according to your specification.  You can also ask them to cut the wires at a specified length.  The thickness of the insulator also varies but you can ask for a customized thickness. 

You have to check that there is uniform thickness of the insulator to avoid accidents.  There are guidelines that the manufacturers follow in producing the wires to ensure the safety of its users.  Failure on their part to follow these guidelines will make them liable for the injury that its users will incur due to its negligence.  To ensure your safety and of the user, you need to purchase PVC hook up wires from accredited manufacturers. 

WesBell Electronics Inc
(800) 334-8400

Alpha Eco Wire and Eco Wire Plus Recyclable Hook Up Wire

Alpha Wire never ceases to amaze the wire and cable industry with the imagination and quality of product. Alpha Eco Wire is the latest engineering breakthrough with increased performance and minimized environmental impact. It’s lighter, tougher, smaller and more durable than conventional PVC hook up wire.

Alpha Eco Wire is rated at 600 volts with a temperature of 105°C. It contains no halogens, phthalates or heavy metals. It meets RoHS and WEEE standards for the elimination of hazardous substances and recyclability. Eco wire has a much better perfornamce rating than PVC with a 45% smaller diameter, 40% lighter weight and 10 times the abrasion resistance.

Eco Wire Plus is rated for 300 volts and a temperature of 110°C. It’s designed for industrial applications with exposure to oils and other hazardous fluids. It contains the characteristics of standard Eco Wire with the additional fluid resistance for demanding factory applications.

Eco Wire and Eco Wire Plus come in guage sizes 28 through 10 with 11 different color options to choose from. They’re both manufactured with stranded tinned copper and a polyphenylene ether insulation to resist the worst of chemicals and fluids. They meet the UL and CSA requirements along with being CE, RoHS and REACH compliant.

Alpha engineered the Eco Wire to replace PVC hook up wire and they engineered Eco Wire Plus to replace XLPE hook up wire. Both types of Eco Wire will save space due to it’s smaller diameter and last longer due to it’s tougher, more durable, insulation.

Alpha Eco Wire will cost more than conventional PVC wire so if you don’t need the added protection, durablilty, lighter weight or abrasion resistance then you’ll be better off spending less on standard hook up wire. However, Eco Wire has been engineered to be safe for the environment and its insulation is completely recyclable.

If you have any questions about Alpha’s Eco Wire then please contact us. We have all of it listed on our website for sale so you can also visit us there for more information.

WesBell Electronics Inc
(800) 334-8400

Teflon PFTE High Temperature Wire Cost

As a wire and cable distributor we have large quantities of Teflon PTFE wire in our stock, so we understand the costs associated with each part of the manufacturing process. It’s becoming more and more difficult to get your hands on because of the high demand for PTFE compound, copper and silver.

Copper is the main cost driver of PVC wire and largers sizes of copper wire because the cost of the insulation is much cheaper leaving copper as the main ingredient. Since copper has been lowering over the last month (October 2011) customers expect pricing to be going down on all types of wire and cable which may not be the case.

Teflon wire has 3 main ingredients including PTFE compound, copper and silver that can drastically change the price of the wire you’re trying to buy. Also, since all three of these materials are very hard for manufcaturers to get, the lead time is as long as 10-12 weeks to get Teflon wire manufactured.

Since PTFE wire is a high temperature wire the insulation needs to resist almost twice as much heat as PVC wire which increases the cost. PTFE is a compound used in manufacturing Teflon insulation which our vendors need to make the wire. The problem is that a PTFE compound manufacturer in Japan was shut down due to the earthquake about a year ago making it more difficult for wire manufacturers to get their hands on the PTFE compound.

Copper has been lowering over the last month which lowers the cost slightly because the bill of materials is less for the manufacturer. However, PTFE is up, material is scarce and lead times are getting longer which are all reasons the price is going up in contrast to a lower copper price. Just because copper is down 20% doesn’t always mean your price will lower 20% as well.

Silver has been a roller coaster ride over the last year going up like a rocket and coming back down just as fast making it very difficult to price wire when the lead time is out 10 weeks. A price today could be 20% different in a week nevermind 10 weeks. It’s currently down compared to its high over the last few months but it’s still up quite a bit from a year ago.

If you have any questions about the cost of Teflon wire or why it costs so much to manufacture PTFE high temperature wire then please call and ask us. We list the current copper pricing on our website for your reference to previous months. This helps you understand why pricing is going up and shows our honesty when pricing is down because when copper lowers, so does your price.

WesBell Electronics Inc
(800) 334-8400

Copper Hook Up Wire For Appliances and Electronics

Hook up wire is used for many different things because each different type of insulation gives it more possibilites for environmental use. Standard electronic hook up wire only needs to protect the wire from a few things and complex insulation protects it from outdoor weather conditions such as moisture, gas and solvents.

Indoor hook up wire comes in 300 volts and 600 volts with a PVC insulation. These copper wires are used in electronics and appliances throughout your home. If you’ve ever taken the panel off of your toaster, microwave or stereo and seen the wire harness you might know what I’m talking about.

At Wesbell Electronics we manufacture the wire harnesses to specification as an ISO9001 company. Being certified as an ISO9001 company we have strict procedures while producing our wire and cable harnesses in order to limit errors and produce them as quick as possible.

The 600 volt hook up wire will have a slightly thicker insulation than the 300 volt for added protection. That gives it a slightly higher cost. Higher voltage and higher temperature wires will cost more as well.

If you’re looking for the most basic, cheapest indoor electronic lead wire then UL1007  is what you should ask for. It’s the 300 volt PVC insulated copper wire being discussed. Most companies will offer 100′ spools available for sale because it’s very cheap and you’ll only have to pay about $10-20 for a spool depending on the awg size.

There’s about 10-12 standard colors available and PVC wire can be striped very easily. A stripe will usually cost about $7 additional for each spool but if you need 20 colors for a wire harness then striping is the way to go. You can make the amount of colors unlimited by including stripes as a posibility.

If you’re looking for a type of electrical wire to be used outdoors then you should take a look at our THHN wire. It’s commonly used by electrical contractors outdoors and in conduit. Its dual rated THHN THWN insulation protects against water, gas, oil and solvents.

If you’re looking for a higher temperature hook up wire then take a look at our Teflon wire that reaches 200°C. It’s manufactured with silver coated copper strands and a PTFE insulation for high heat and solder proof applications.

Please call us with any type of hook upw wire you need!

WesBell Electronics
(800) 334-8400

Types of Hook Up Wire – PVC and Teflon High Temperature

Wouldn’t it be easy if you could just ask for some hook up wire and call it a day? Well there are voltage ratings, temperature ratings and insulation types that change the pricing of each type of hookup wire based on the application you have. If there was just one universal hook up wire you’d be over paying so that it has the approvals for every application.

The most basic would be a PVC hook up wire manufactured to 300 volts and a temperature of 105°C. It has a UL rating of 1007 which approves it for that temperature and voltage. The next step up would be the UL approved 1015 which has the same temperature rating with 600 volts of power. These two types of PVC insulated wire are used in small appliances and electronic devices. You’ll usually see them in a small wire harness connecting power from one spot to the next.

As an ISO 9001 company WesBell has the capabilities to manufacture these wire and cable harnesses to specification. We cut and strip to length or follow a detailed specification sheet to meet the requirements of all of our customers.

Telfon Wire is a high temperature wire of 200°C. It’s rated from 600 volts to 3000 volts and has silver-plated copper strands in flexible and non-flexible options. It has a UL rating of 1180 and you might also hear it referred to as Type E or Type EE high temperature wire.

Beware of the pricing in 2011 for Teflon wire for a few reasons. Copper is up, silver is up and PTFE compound is up! That’s 3 problems of Type E wire right now driving the price through the roof. Silver and copper are both high demand commodities right now which are up and a large portion of the cost of manufacturing this hook up wire. The third is a PTFE compound manufacturer in Japan that was shut down creating very high demand on this compound that makes the Teflon insulation. I recommend looking around and finding a good price because you’ll find that it’s going to be very different everywhere you look depending on when it was purchased by that company.

Lastly, THHN wire is NOT dog fence wire. This is a very common question we get about our THHN wire because it can be used outdoors and in conduit. However, dog fence wire goes directly into the ground and has a polypropelene insulation to protect accordingly. THHN wire has a PVC insulation with a nylon coating available for use outdoors and in conduit only. Will the wire be deemed ineffective immediately? No, of course not but it won’t last as long and isn’t approved to be in that application.

Be sure to ask your wire and cable sales person about the types of hook up wire and your application in order to fit you with the correct type of wire for the cheapest cost possible.

Information and Facts on Power Cable

Power cable comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can look complicated to the layman. These cables can be single-conductor, multi-conductor, as well as industrial strength or for personal use. Each type of power cable has its own advantages, which make them suitable for certain types of applications.

A power cable is categorized in three classes, 1) high voltage (for applications requiring load greater than 40,000V), 2) medium voltage (for applications requiring load between 6000V and 36,000V) and 3) low voltage (for applications requiring load below 1000V). These cables are used for feeders and other heavy machinery, along with branch circuits in electrical utility, commercial and industrial applications.

Single-conductor power cable is used in various applications such as stage lighting, locomotives, DLO and for welding purposes. Each single-conductor cable, depending upon its use, has a different rating for amps, voltage, flexibility and insulation, each having a different price-level.  

There are many multi-conductor cables; extensions cords, Type G-GC, Type W, SOOW and portable cords, each encased a rubber jacket for insulation. These cables are safe and flexible and when additional flexibility is required, there is a multi-conductor cable available for this need. The SOOW multi-conductor cable is similar to the extension cord (before the plugs are attached) and is generally used to supply power generators and tools in industries.

The least-expensive power cable of this group is the welding cable. Welding cable has a rubber jacket and flexible copper fibers and is rated to 600V. DLO cable also has the rubber jacket, is rated to 2000V and has tinned copper fibers. The DLO can carry more power and therefore has a higher corresponding price.

Remember, when installing power cable, it is recommended that you consult with your electrician. And when it is time to purchase your cable, some helpful hints include knowing the operating temperature, amperage, voltage, outer diameter (cable diameter + insulation jacket). Please call WesBell at 800-334-8400 for all your cable needs.

Installing THHN cable in cold weather

When the weather is cold, you can have problems not just with your heating bills and skin, but also with your cables. For example, the THHN cable is easily vulnerable to deterioration due to cold weather.

THHN cable is Thermoplastic, High-Heat Resistance, Nylon-Coated, therefore the name- THHN. Though it is versatile cable and does not fall under any specific application category, it is mostly used under Hook-up wire class.

Strengths

THHN cable comes in a variety of strengths. And since it is made from thermoplastic material, it is easy to heat and cool this wire many times to change its shape. But there is a limit to the number of times this wire can stand heating and cooling. It has its lower and higher temperature limits and if the temperature changes cross this range, this wire can become unstable. Temperature range depends upon manufacturers.

When the THHN cable comes with ‘High Heat’ rating, it means that this wire can be used in high temperature scenarios. These wires come with various specifications, which determine the specific applications where these can be used. For example, “Nylon coated” means that a certain thermoplastic material is used in this wire.

Coming to installation of the THHN cable in the cold weather, there are some simple guidelines that you should follow. Keep this cable indoors, and not in the outdoor harsh environment. Generally, a temperature of 65°F works well.

If keeping the cable indoors is not possible, bring it inside for at least 24 hours, before you install it.

If the outside temperature is below 14°F, then do not install the THHN cable.

While installing the cable, take care that it is not dropped on the floor, as these impacts can cause cracks in the stiff cable material.

Make sure you do not bend the cable too much, because it can cause the cold and stiff cable to break.

Once you have installed it, this cable will work properly in environments with temperature higher than 14°F.

All you need to Know about High Voltage Cable

If you want to transfer large amount of electricity, then high voltage cables are your safest bet. There are various forms of these cables, and all are used for different purposes depending upon voltage of electricity and the machines for which these are used. Three types of cables are: high, medium, and low voltage cables. Out of these, high voltage cables are used when the voltage is above 1000 V. These cables are heavily insulated to prevent any risks or hazards.

• AC power cables

These cables are used to transfer up to 2000 V of electricity. The composition of these cables includes cross section of cable, polyethylene insulation, and conductive material like aluminum or copper. These cables are highly flexible and work well both in low as well as high temperatures. The cable layers are fused together to avoid air seeping in, as this can cause electrical discharge, thereby damaging the insulation.

• HVDC cables

These are specialized cables that are designed for high voltage direct currents, and thus are called HVDC cables. If you have seen a power line, then it would be easy to understand, as a power line is also an HVDC cable. These cables are helpful in carrying large loads of electricity over longer distances. After reaching the transformer, their electricity is converted to AC form. Thereon it runs with lower voltage, and is transferred to businesses and homes.

• X-ray cables

These cables are used to link other high voltage cables with X ray machines. These are also used to connect high voltage cables to other scientific equipment that require higher loads of electricity. These are highly flexible cables. They have a braided cover of copper wires, and are insulated with rubber. These are fused to high voltage cable to provide safety, and to reduce the hazards of electric shocks.

All these cables are not for home use. These are used to connect high power sources to other devices or cables. If you want to buy these cables, make sure you go for the best quality, as bad cables can lead to dangerous situations.

Using Teflon wire for High Temperatures

Wire insulated with Teflon, or Teflon wire, is very useful. If you have been using PVC hook up wire to fight insulation melt downs, then you will be pleased to use Teflon. It cannot even get affected by a soldering iron. It has been used since the 1960’s due to its excellent performance in high temperature scenarios. Some companies also use it in classification of surface electronics.

Teflon wire has got copper strands, plated with sliver. The silver plating, along with Teflon insulation helps the wire to sustain extremely high temperatures. It is much better than basic hook up wire that suffers from melt downs in high temperatures. And due to its great heat withstanding ability, Teflon wire comes expensive. But in case your needs are about wiring places with extremely high temperatures, it will be a good investment in the long run.

This wire is made by following many methods. Two of the more common methods are wrapping and extrusion. Extrusion is the most common one and is done usually in the standard sizes of 24 AWG and 22 AWG. There are also some smaller sizes, where space is an important factor. The covering comes in fused and wrapped types. Teflon is also used as the outer jacket of co-axial cables.

Teflon wires also have great resistance to moisture, flame, damage from soldering iron, and thermal aging. Apart from that, the PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating is able to resist many harsh chemicals, ozone, greases, and solvents.

You can install these wires at many places, as they are very easy to fix. It also has low degree of power loss, and thus is great for high frequency usage. Because these wires are small and slippery, they can be used almost anywhere.

PTFE or Extruded Teflon hook up wire has 3 types: Type E (most commonly used, and rated for 600 V), Type EE (having thicker Teflon jacket, and rated for 1000 V), and Type ET (having thin cover, and rated for 250 V). All 3 of them can be used for temperatures up to 200^o C

Basics of Bare Copper Wire

We all know that of all the metals used all around the planet, copper is the number one metal in terms of its usage. This is because it is the most versatile metal, and it touches the lives of people in one way or the other. It has a significant role to play in electrical engineering branch in various ways. It has great conductivity power, and thus is used a lot in making electrical wire. Although there are many other available metals as well, but none can beat the versatility of copper.

Copper wire is available in both forms- with and without insulation. It depends upon the engineers- whether they want insulation or not. Depending upon where they are using the wire, they decide if it should have insulation or not. Both insulated and bare copper wires are used in different applications. They have their use in different engineering segments.

The bare copper wire is also called ground wire, since it has no protection or insulation. This wire is generally used as the platform for various wires and cables.

This wire can come either in solid form, or in small AWG sizes, wrapped to make some specific gauge. Experts say that using small AWG sized wire allows more flexibility to the wire, and it bends easily around the corners. Although flexibility is a good thing, but not in all cases, so a solid form bare copper wire is preferred in many scenarios. For example, electrical contractors require stiff wires, so that the wire could be sent through a conduit for longer distances.

Green THHN wire is called ground wire, particularly when that wire has to be used outdoors. It is used for grounding purposes to safeguard people against hazards.

So this is where bare copper wire is used. But before you purchase this wire, you must make sure that the company you are buying it from is a good and trusted one. One simple solution is to look for this wire online. You can find many trusted online companies that can provide you the kind of bare copper wire you want.