looking for inexpensive tiny hookup wire.

[sjason]

I'm having trouble finding any cheap pvc insulated stranded hookup wire - at a size of about .5mm diameter or less (typically the stuff i find in toys, etc.)

If anyone knows where to find such (cause I tried ebay), or has a bit onhand they could part with, let me know...thanks.

[Jon Chandler]

The cheapest place I've found for hookup wire is [urlhttp://www.allelectronics.com/]All Electronics[/url] in the US.  They have a wide range of sizes much cheaper than anyplace else I could find.


I recently ordered 10 25' spools in the range of colors.  The next question was how to keep it organized.  The spools are all the same diameter.  I took a cardboard mailing tube of slightly smaller diameter and cut down the side lengthwise, then inserted the spools into the tube.  This resulted in a gap of about half an inch in the side of the tube for the wire from each spool to exit, and the tube provides enough friction to hold the spools and prevent the wire from unspooling.  A gentle pull is all that's required to get a length of wire.

[DJPhil]

If you want to go the salvage route I'd recommend looking for scrap wire from a telephone installation. I managed to get about six feet of an eight conductor bundle and it'll keep me in wire for a long time. It's just the right size for breadboarding, solid core, and strips easily. Old ethernet cable is very similar, if a little more difficult to strip.

Just a thought.

[pb]

If you want to go the salvage route I'd recommend looking for scrap wire from a telephone installation. I managed to get about six feet of an eight conductor bundle and it'll keep me in wire for a long time. It's just the right size for breadboarding, solid core, and strips easily. Old ethernet cable is very similar, if a little more difficult to strip.

Just a thought.

Fry's (if one is nearby) often has 25, 50, or 100 foot CAT5 bundles for ~ $5.  I'll sit while watching a movie or something and cut of 6-8" pieces to make jumpers.  Doesn't work as well for soldering due to the sheathing melting away.

[sjason]

I'll check a few old such computer cables then...but am hoping for flexible stranded preferably - easier to work with inside tiny enclosures.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I often find it's easier to just strip some thin multicored cable - espoecially if you want lots of colours.
 

[PeterG]

I have striped a IDE cable before for a project that needed very fine conductors. Worked well and i got 80 wires from a cable.

Just an idea

[tnt]

Adafruit has this http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33&products_id=288

(there are other colors, look into the 'wire' category)

[Neilm]

I quite often use wire that is intended for wire wrapping.

Neil

[sagitis]

you can just use wires inside cat5 cable or telephone wire 2-3 amp should no be a problem with it. Besides they are solid core easy to handle

[Simon]

As much as i hate them maplin is ideal for this sort of thing in the uk but where are you located ?

[Mr J]

I get my wire from here http://www.elexp.com/cbl-indx.htm , they can give price breaks too if you buy in bulk.

We use about 20,000 feet of 24 AWG a year in the lab. don't forget wire prices fluctuate with oil prices.

average price for 1000' roll is around 33 bucks

[Zero999]

wire prices fluctuate with oil prices.

I would've thought the copper prices would make more of a difference to the cost of wire.

[Simon]

well considering its weight fuel prices would too, I'd bet transporting it is not cheap apart from the price of oil to make the sleeve

[Uncle Vernon]

wire prices fluctuate with oil prices.

I would've thought the copper prices would make more of a difference to the cost of wire.

Copper prices will generally reflect more on larger cables. The proportion of oil based plastics in small and complex cables means oil prices can have a substantial influence on end user price.

On a more positive note the plastic insulation from electrical cables which was once discarded as waste, now has a worthwhile scrap value.