Where to get flexible wire - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 01:09:34 am
content: I'm looking for a supplier of wire, probably something like 18AWG to 21AWG that is more flexible than standard wire, in red and black. It only needs to handle 50V maximum (actually carrying 12V).Multimeter wire would do the job nicely, but it's better than I need and way more expensive than I'd like (at least that I've been able to find so far).I actually have some wire here we bought from an importer about 15 years ago that fits the bill nicely, but that importer no longer exists and I only have a couple of rolls left. I'd need another few rolls of each to start with, but will need more in the future. This wire has what looks like vinyl insulation and about 35 quite fine wires. I understand it originally came from China and was very cheap. The rolls are just labelled with the importer's details.Searching is proving difficult because pretty much everyone calls their wire "flexible".

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 01:20:31 am
content: Look somewhere like Hobby King and use a search term like "wet noodle wire". The traditional stuff is Deans, but cheaper copies exist.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 01:38:23 am
content: inB4 "OMG this stuff is too flexible"

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 01:48:11 am
content: Quote from: IanB on July 23, 2013, 01:20:31 amThanks for the reply, Ian.Wow, that stuff is expensive. It only seems to come is short lengths, which is a sure sign it's too elaborate for what I want. When I said rolls, I meant 100M rolls, not 2 foot.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 01:48:53 am
content: 'extra' flexible wire generally has silicone rubber insulation to maintain overall flexibility.Element14 au stock 0.5 mm^2 (256/0.05mm) in red and black but who knows how 'expensive' you would like.

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 01:50:24 am
content: Quote from: Psi on July 23, 2013, 01:38:23 amIt is, yes.Well, I don't care f it's super flexible other than the price. I just need something with maybe 2 to 3 times the number of strands normally used. And it doesn't need to be silicon.

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 02:01:30 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on July 23, 2013, 01:48:53 amThanks for the reply. I had already looked at E14, but I just checked again. Everything there is either overkill or not flexible enough, and E14 is rather expensive for wire in general.This wire I have here only cost something like $15 a 100M roll. I still have about 20 rolls of other colours, but only 2 full rolls of red and less than 2 of black.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 03:24:27 am
content: I have found that speaker wire is often more flexible than ordinary wire, but it generally comes in a figure 8 configuration with clear insulation. It is however polarized, so you can tell which conductor is which, and it comes on big spools. It seems remarkably useful for non-audio purposes...

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 03:56:40 am
content: One of our member here iloveelectronics (aka Franky) has a little shop carries these noodle silicone wires ->http://www.99centhobbies.com/

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 04:11:50 am
content: Quote from: IanB on July 23, 2013, 03:24:27 amAgreed. I often use speaker wire for other things, but in this case it must be pure red and pure black.

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 04:20:58 am
content: Quote from: BravoV on July 23, 2013, 03:56:40 amThanks for the link.From what I can see, none of the noodle wires are gong to be practical for me. I need my wires cut into 600mm lengths. Even allowing for wastage, that's over 150 per 100M roll. At, say $40 for a pair of rolls, that's only 26.6c each pair. Using the cheapest noodle wire I've found it would come out to nearly $5 a pair with a massive amount of wastage. It's not practical for me to go over about $1 per pair. Otherwise, I'll put up with the inconvenience of normal wire.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 04:33:16 am
content: "noodle wire" is pretty much a term used in the modeling community, where it is specifically sold in short lengths to accommodate ... models. You shouldn't have much trouble finding similar wire in big spools from the usual sources; "silicone" and "test lead" are just other terms that get you to the flexible wire.http://www.testpath.comhas both PVC and Silicone insulated wire in 100m spools, for instance. It's still pretty expensive. (Wire seems to be one of those things that is really depressing to buy in "moderate" quantities.) Digikey has some "rubber" insulated test-lead wire in 500ft spools for only about $50, if you buy 50 of them :-(

author: Bloch
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 07:49:50 am
content: Quote from: IanB on July 23, 2013, 03:24:27 amI just want to point out that often they are low voltage / no data at all.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 07:53:14 am
content: Have you tried an automotive supplier. The wire used in vehicles is often very flexible.

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 08:24:37 am
content: at hobbyking you can ask them on the live chat for reel sizes, and if you order up the wire on checkout you can enter the number you need and you will get it in one piece.ive got 20 meters of 14awg silicon wires from a uk based rc shop from ebay damn that wire is even more flexible then the fluke probes made from 0.08 strands(ive measured it with a mitutoyo digital caliper

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 11:36:50 am
content: Talk to Dilip atMicroflex wire and cableI have got a lot of things from him for exactly what you are talking about. Ask for what is the closest thing to what you want that he has in stock. If he does not have it he will run it for you. They actually make the wire right there including extruding the insulation on so you can get custom insulation diameters and colors. I have found his pricing cheaper than all the normal electronic supply channels. IMO you do want silicone insulation for the flexibility on top of the fine stranding.I have no connection with Microflex other than being a satisfied customer.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 04:43:11 pm
content: Years ago I needed some flex wire and ended up learning way too much about it - most of which I've since forgottenBut there are different types of flex wire.There is silicone jacketed wire with a thick insulation and small conduction which has excellent insulating properties and is very flexible - like used on test leads. It's usually so flexible that it will fall into a pile on itself. This tends to be expensive and I doubt it's what you are looking for - but this is what the "wet noodle" and "Dean's" stuff is.There are also wires that are rated for a certain number of flexes over their life. They are sold for industrial machinery where a part will move back and forth. IIRC, they were rated based on how much they flexed (like degree/bend radius) and a guaranteed number of flexes they would provide. Such wires also tend to be quite expensive and some have inner construction that is different than normal copper/wire to prevent sharp bends which cause more stress on the copper.I think what you want is just regular wire with a high strand count, and maybe with thinner-than-normal insulation. You can do a search on Digikey and search by wire gauge as well as jacket thickness and conductor count. Then find the suppliers (like Alpha or Carol) and contact them to see who the distributors are in your area. High conductor count wire is much less expensive than silicone test lead wire or specialty high-flex wire. It's not as flexible as the other two, but I gather that's not the critical factors - rather just 2-3 times more flexible without being too much more $$$... and that's exactly what high conductor count/thin stranded wire will get you.