Educated guess of the gage of these ribbon wires  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 24, 2017, 10:51:11 pm
content: Does anyone have experience with these ribbons ? I know it is hard to say... I have asked three vendors. One replied don't know, the second 27-ish. Waiting for the third.http://www.ebay.com/itm/40cm-40-Way-40-Pin-Female-to-Female-Flat-Ribbon-Cable-XH2-54-Connector-Wire-/321728782289?hash=item4ae8879fd1:g:oDQAAOSwax5Yt-cS

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2017, 11:00:01 pm
content: Click the 2nd picture. Put your cursor on it to get the zoomed view. The labeling on the individual wires is visible, and answers your question.Note that isn't a universal answer, just the answer in this case. Answers such as 26 awg and 28 awg are common.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2017, 11:05:00 pm
content: 28 AWG is fairly typical I think, 7 strands. Certainly I would estimate the one on my bench to be that and I think I counted 7 strands. I don't think I can measure that accurately though to get the area of a single strand to calculate it properly though.Correction I didn't notice the one linked was XH. I measured some plain IDC ribbon wire which was 28AWG/7, and also some ribbon with dupont and that was about the same, maybe thinner, hard to tell. But as Nusa says, the one in your picture is actually marked as 24AWG (of course, is that trustworthy, is it actually what you'll get, who will know) which makes some sense as they are XH connectors and should be able to carry more current than ribbon is usually used for.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 12:55:22 am
content: It never occurred to me that I would be able to actually see the marking on the wire.24AWG it is ! I think it will work for my application. I need to run two 150mA circuits, four wires, inside a 3/8" ID metallic conduit.Thank you guys !

author: neko efecktz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 04:40:26 am
content: Just a quick note.I have bought several sets of those cables from Jaycar withMale to MaleMale to FemaleFemale to FemaleThe insulation on the wires are quite thick and the wire inside is very thin.AlsoThe wire is copper coated STEEL.However none of my jumpers had any writing on them.on the average the resistance of 150mm / 6" piece is about 0.3although 2 wires adjoining wires measured 0.3 and 2.2checked 5 times to be sure.I use a lot of ribbon wire the same size as the old serial ports used to use.A piece approx 300mm long 12" measures between 0.1 and 0with the same meter as used above.BILL.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 01:12:23 pm
content: Point taken. I had asked the vendors if it is copper. The first two came with affirmative. The third, the one in the link above, will not be back til Monday.I know there are bad ones and good ones. I do have some breadboard jumpers which have round molded steel pins but wires seem to be copper, do not stick to magnet. I have other jumpers and a couple of 40x ribbons, all with DUPONT ends that do not react to magnets.I will wait for the vendor answer. That you for the reminder.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2017, 10:58:34 pm
content: My first batch of multiple dupont cables, all attach to magnet.I wish I had read this topic before I ordered.So what is this copper coated steel and what can I expect?? Wil it rust? Is the resistance increasing over time?

author: neko efecktz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2017, 02:23:35 pm
content: I made a comment above back in March and didn't put one other thing to consider.Apart from the higher resistance than proper copper wire the connection is sometimes quite fragile.I have had several ends come off with little or no force.One as I was just splitting the cable down.This was however from memory, only on one of the sets of wires.I haven't seen the wire before without the plastic ends on.All the bestBILL.