Whats the thin single strand wire called please? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: HobGoblyn
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 02:02:42 pm
content: Looking on various sites, there's 1000s of different wires.I'm after the thin single stranded wire you might use for (soldered) connection between two points inside say a mobile phone.Thanks

author: LateLesley
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 02:18:27 pm
content: You'll be looking for enamelled copper wire, or sometimes called magnet wire. YOu'l have to choose the thickness you want.https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR3.TRC1.A0.H0.Xenamelled+copper+wire.TRS0&_nkw=enamelled+copper+wire&_sacat=0

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 02:34:45 pm
content: I sometimes use Wrapping Wire but soldered, not wrapped, to make small traces repairs.

author: Lesolee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 02:37:26 pm
content: Some people use single strand wire for pcb modifications, and then it is "mod wire". This is quite different to the enamelled copper wire mentioned previously.https://uk.farnell.com/pro-power/mc6a-1-0-6t2-vt-100/equipment-wire-1-0-6mm-violet/dp/2425421In this case I bought some recently to pad out the order up to £20, to avoid the £3.50 delivery charge

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 02:42:33 pm
content: Mobile phones don't typically use individual soldered wires for interconnects, pretty much everything is connected via flexible flat cables (FFC) or flexible printed circuit (FPC).Enamelled copper wire will give you the physically smallest solution, though the enamel can make soldering a pain. Depending on the type of enamel it may have to be physically scraped off to permit soldering, though some enamels can be burnt off at soldering temperatures.

author: HobGoblyn
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 04:13:33 pm
content: Quote from: mikerj on January 17, 2020, 02:42:33 pmThanks, was following what I read on ipadrepair.com, they say (about my model iphone)QuoteMy iphone currently works 85% of the time, the other 15% people cant hear me etc, so was thinking of looking into the above possibly being a solution, and wanted the wire before I opened it up.

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 04:13:52 pm
content: Quote from: HobGoblyn on January 17, 2020, 02:02:42 pm"Silver Plated Copper kynar wire 30 awg"https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Silver+Plated+Copper+kynar+wire+30+awgEdit:Buy the wire stripper too:https://duckduckgo.com/?q=wire+wrap+wire+stripper+tool+30+awg&ia=images&iax=images

author: dnwheeler
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 07:30:08 pm
content: For micro-soldering level repairs on iPhones and Mac laptops (or other similar tiny devices - see Louis Rossmann's or iPadRehab's or Paul Daniels's YouTube channels), you'll need 36 or 40 AWG enameled wire - wire-wrap wire is way too big.For most "normal" PC boards, wire-wrap wire is fine.

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 07:59:56 pm
content: Quote from: dnwheeler on January 17, 2020, 07:30:08 pmIf you want it thinner: "PTFE hookup wire xx AWG" (PTFE is = Teflon)https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ptfe+hook-up+wire+site:mouser.co.ukWhat I don't know is where's a tool to strip wire that thin with ease. (I hate enameled wire because I hate removing the enamel off the ends).

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 05:20:46 pm
content: Quote from: Lesolee on January 17, 2020, 02:37:26 pmPVC insulation? No thanks! The solid wire conducts heat very effectively and turns the PVC insulation into goo. It usually retracts back along the length of the wire (at least a mm or two) and any physical contact will displace it, leaving an exposed wire. What a mess. Only use PTFE/Teflon or Kynar insulation for mod wire. Neither will melt at all at soldering temperatures, and they are more durable in general.

author: HobGoblyn
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 05:49:19 pm
content: Quote from: GeorgeOfTheJungle on January 17, 2020, 07:59:56 pmWould a bit of fine wet and dry paper do it or am I being stupid?

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 06:00:31 pm
content: Quote from: HobGoblyn on January 20, 2020, 05:49:19 pmWhat's that? Sounds like wash'n dry :-)For PTFE wire you need the tool of the photo in msg #6, but I don't think they make it for wires thinner than AWG 30.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 06:58:09 pm
content: Quote from: GeorgeOfTheJungle on January 20, 2020, 06:00:31 pmI've found that tool hard to use for stripping. I've been using a Clauss No-Nik NN012 (0.012"). You can hear it click as it cuts through the insulation, and the insulation slides right off without yanking on the wire or nicking it.I think that division of Clauss was bought by Ripley or Miller tools, so it can also be found under those names, and usually with products used for fiber optic stripping.It also appears the older version with the plastic guide in the front (pictured below) has been replaced by a newer design. I haven't tried the new one yet, but the old version is still available from various distributors and on ebay.