Top Reasons for Choosing Teflon 20 AWG wire

Hook up wires is commonly used for several reasons. For projects that require tolerance to high temperatures, Teflon wires are the best choice. Teflon is the brand of a company that specializes in manufacturing insulation for wires and cables could reach up to 200 degrees Celsius. Teflon wires are also known as STJ or Shielded Tape Jacket high temperature wires. This is a bit of a misnomer though because this type of wire can also be available as unshielded. Let us take a closer look as to why the Teflon 20 AWG wire is one of the best choices for among the different types of high temperature wires.

There are different types of Teflon wire. The most common are the Type E, Type EE, Type ET and the unshielded version. The main difference between these types is the voltage that the wire needs to conduct. For instance, type EE would be more suitable for 1000 volts, while type ET is most suitable for 250 volts. Another difference of these types will be based on the amount of current that might pass through the wire, also known as ampacity. Usually, higher voltage would equate to higher level of current that will flow through the wire and higher temperature. Thus, this should be taken into consideration when choosing the type of Teflon wire to use.

The Teflon 20 AWG wire is one of the best choices because of the following reasons. First, it is versatile. This type of wire has varieties available that can conduct as low as 250 volts and as high as 1,000 volts. The stranding is usually comprised of 19 strands with 32 AWG each. The diameter is usually 0.059 inches. In addition, it comes in different colors, so anyone who needs to have the wires color coded will find it an easy task to accomplish. Because of this, the wire can be used for anything around the house that may require high temperatures passing through the wires.

Another reason for choosing Teflon wire is because it is safe and it passes several standards. It is RoHS compliant so it is safe to have and use in any location, house or workplace. It has also passed the VW-1 flame test making it inflammable even if it is exposed to high temperatures. It also has the standard UL 1213 and Mil Spec M16878/4 approvals. Therefore, one can feel safe and secure about using this type of wire whether for personal or commercial reasons.

To summarize, the Teflon 20 AWG wire can be used for several reasons. At home, it can be used to fix different appliances such as stoves, microwave ovens or other cooking instruments and equipment. This type of wire is even more useful for commercial reasons. It is usually used in basic items like computer units or sensors, and it can also be used for more complex equipment such as those found in power plants, cellular stations or turbine power generation. In the recent years, it has also found its way in the field of military and commercial aerospace. 

WesBell Electronics Inc
(800) 334-8400

Teflon PTFE Lead Wire and Shielded Cables

WesBell just added to our Teflon PTFE section from the standard high temperature lead wire to a few more types of Teflon hook up wire and two types of Teflon cables. Teflon is a brand name that designates a PTFE compound that allows wire and cable to reach temperatures of 200°C and higher.

For a few years now we’ve been selling Type E Teflon wire which is a 600 volt 200°C lead wire with a Mil Spec M16878/4 rating. Well, there’s also a 250 volt and 1000 volt Teflon lead wire that we added to our website. They aren’t available to buy online just yet, but it allows our customers and website visitors access to all of the specifications and approvals that they have to offer. We can supply these new PTFE lead wires within a few days.

The Teflon cables were also a great addition to our website since many of our customers order multiple Type E lead wires for the same wire harness or application. Instead of using 3 individual Teflon wires they can use a cable with 3 wires in it for a much better look to finish the application.

STJ stands for Shielded Tape Jacket which is the most common type of PTFE cable. They come in an unshielded version if needed but most times a shield is neccessary for the high temperature applications. The Teflon tape jacket is rated for 200°C and the wires are Type E 600 volt which is also rated for 200°C. STJ cables are manufactured with a braid shield which is better than the common aluminum foil shield in most PVC cables.

Type ET lead wire is manufactured with a slightly thinner insulation since it only needs to reach 250 volts rather than 600 volts. It’s a little bit cheaper but the level of competition on the Type E drives the price down a bit as well. Type EE is 1000 volts with a slightly thicker insulation to handle the higher voltage rating. All three types of PTFE wire are rated for 200°C with silver plated copper strands.

Please contact us if you have any questions about Teflon wire and cable or if you have any questions or comments about our website. We enjoy getting feedback!

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

Multi Conductor Cables Shielded and Unshielded

There are many different types of multi conductor cables that have been engineered by wire and cable manufacturers over the years to protect the conductors from weather, sunlight, oils, gases, solvents and much more. Each cable is made with the standard gauge sizes and numbers of conductors to fit all types of applications.

The most basic type of shielded or unshielded multi conductor cable would be the PVC / PVC which would be the least expensive because it has the least amount of approvals needed. A PVC / PVC cable is used indoors for wire and cable harnesses to replace multiple single hook up wires in a neater way. When wire and cable is used indoors there obviously isn’t as much that can affect or harm it which means it costs less to engineer and manufacture.

A second type of indoor multi conductor cable is a high temperature cable. A PVC cable can only handle 105°C compared to a high temperature STJ cable that can handle temperatures of 200°C. They’re manufactured with PTFE insulated conductors and a FEP teflon jacket. These cables also come shielded and unshielded but are mostly dedicated to temperature applications and protection from solder iron heat. PVC insulation melts as solder irons attempt to connect the wire to the application so teflon wire or STJ cables are a good alternitive for those situations.

Outdoor multi conductor cables have added protection for weather and other things that might damage or puncture a cable which could short the connection. Electrical cables include UFB cable, MC cable and tray cable that can be used outdoors, underground or in conduit. MC cable can be used outdoors but not directly in the ground while tray cable can be duried in the ground without a problem. Each cable that has more approvals and options will cost more money.

Electronic cables used outdoors are also called power cables. SOOW, Type W, Type G and rubber tray cables are used in portable power applications. These multi conductor cables are manufctured with a rubber outer jacket so that they can be dragged on the ground, ran over on job sites and flexible enough to coil back up for another time.

Early developement construction sites use these cables to run power a long way for their machines and tools that need power before there’s any electricity on the site. As time passed cables were getting ruined very quickly because they were being run over by heavy machinery and dragged over concrete and rocky areas. That made manufactures develope the tough rubber jackets for a much longer life of the cable.

The common denominator in all of these cables is the copper. Each of them is manufactured with either stiff or flexible copper strands. Electrial cables need to be stiff to push through conduit easily while power cables need to be flexible so that it’s easier to use the tools, bend around corners and coil up on a spool for next time.

Even though copper is very expensive there are many other things to take into consideration for the cost of each cable. Nevermind the type of cable, a cable manufacturer has to buy the copper, engineer the cable, make it, store it, spool it and ship it before you can even get a price.

Talk to us about how and where you’re using your cable before buying it. We can help you figure out the most cost effective type of wire and cable for your application because we have a knowledgeable sales staff available to assist you.

WesBell Electronics Inc
(800) 334-8400

Electrical Wire Questions and Answers

We get a lot of phone calls and emails with questions about many different types of electrical wire and cable. Since some of them are repeated we’re going to put them on our website so that people can find the answer before they need to make a phone call.

What type of electrical cable do I use to run electricity to my barn or garage?

If it’s above ground or in conduit you can use SER (Service Entrance Cable). Talk to an electrician first to check the gauge of the cable you’ll need. The electrician will do a calculation based on the length of the cable, the amount of amps you need and the voltage.

If you want to run the cable directly underground then you need to use UFB cable or Tray cable. UFB cable is an underground feeder that has added protection to be used underground. If you need something bigger than 6 awg then you’ll need to use tray cable which can also be used directly underground. Tray cable gets as big as 750 mcm with 4 conductors plus a ground wire.

Can I use Romex wire if it’s only going to be outdoors for 10 feet?

No matter how long I work for a wire and cable company I know this question will continue to come up. Romex can NOT be used outdoors because the jacket insulation isn’t manufactured with enough protection to resist any moisture, gas, oil or solvents. Anything that penetrates the jacket could hit the bare copper ground wire and short the connection.

Can I use THHN as dog fence wire?

Only if you keep the wire above ground. Usually dog fence wire is buried in the ground so you’ll need a wire that has enough protection to be used directly underground. THHN wire is used indoors, outdoors and in conduit only. The manufacturer states that THHN can not be used underground so that’s the message we pass along.

What type of wire do I use if I need high temperature?

Standard PVC hook up wire is rated for 105C with a few different voltage ratings available. If you need higher temperature then you should use teflon wire which is rated up to 200C. It’s silver plated copper with a PTFE insulation and it’s getting more expensive by the minute. Copper is rising, silver is rising and PTFE compound is also rising to give teflon wire 3 possible inceases each day.

Please email or call us with any questions you might have about electrical wire and cable.

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

Teflon PTFE Wire Has Increased More Than Copper Prices

Everyone knows that commodities are going up very fast including Gold, Silver, Copper and many other metals. Those are the 3 main commodities affecting wire and cable pricing because they’re the most common conductors of electricity.

Telfon wire is manufactured with bare copper, coated with silver and insulated with a PTFE insulation for high temperature applications. As a wire and cable distributor WesBell Electronics buys bulk electrical wire from manufacturers. Manufactures draw the bare liquid copper into solid gauges and insulate them so that they can be used either indoors, outdoors or directly underground.

Since the commodities are changing daily, the wire and cable manufacturers change their pricing each day and sometimes twice a day. That means, as a distributor, our pricing is changing at the will of the manufacturer. It doesn’t mean that we’re marking the price up because we think it’s worth more money, it costs us more to buy it.

Teflon wire has the most interesting story of all. Not only is it manufacturered with rising copper prices, but silver is rising even faster which increases the price in the same way. The 3rd thing affecting Teflon prices is that a manufacturer of PTFE compound was shut down due to the earthquake in Japan. The PTFE compound is the main ingredient in Teflon insulation that allows the wire to be used in high temperatures.

This manufacturer was supplying PTFE compound to many Teflon wire manufacturers that now need to buy it from another source in order to fulfill their orders. That creates a shortage of Telfon wire which increases the pricing yet again.

Many of our customers are asking how it’s possible for a type of wire to cost twice as much as it did a year ago. We explain the situation and some believe us and some don’t, which might make them shop around for a better price.

We, at WesBell Electronics, understand and encourage our customers to search around for the best price because we would never charge an outrageous amount for any of our wire and cable for any reason. We mark it up fairly to make a profit just like any other business. We also tell our current customers about increases BEFORE they call to place another order so they don’t end up losing money on their order due to costing the Teflon wire at a much lower price.

Everyone needs to be very careful about bidding any job using any commodities. The prices are volatile and using a price you got 2 weeks ago for a job today could crush all of your profits. Be careful, check around and let your customer know the price could change when it’s time to buy.

WesBell Electronics Inc
(800) 334-8400

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.