The Many Uses of Insulated Wire
Since the 1800s, insulated wire has been used for a variety of electrical and communication needs. Telegraphs were some of the first systems to use insulated wires to improve the connectivity and to prevent oxidation. Now, insulated wires consist of copper wire, aluminum wire, or nickel chromium wire within a non-conductive material, usually a plastic or rubber. This type of wiring is best suitable for situations where corrosion is a problem as well as in home situations for safety. The top uses for insulated wire is in the automotive industry, high voltage uses, and for appliances.
Automotive Wire Uses
Wiring in the automotive industry consists of mainly using tinned copper wire of varying thicknesses according to the actual need of the wire. For example, TWP wiring is best suitable for confined spaces within automotive parts. Its gauge in thickness is between 10 and 22 AWG, it can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius up to +90 degrees Celsius, and it is available in 14 different solid colors and stripes. In contrast, SXL wiring is best used for circuit wiring that requires a higher heat resistance. It can withstand temperatures up to 125 degrees Celsius and comes in gauges up to 8 AWG. Other wiring available for automotive use include GPT, HDT, TXL, and GXL. While some manufacturers have begun to use aluminum wire , the standard for automobiles remains copper wire.
High Voltage Wiring
In high voltage and high temperature conditions, braidless silicone wiring is one of the top choices available. Withstanding temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius, this braidless wire is very flexible and comes in gauges of 2 to 22 AWG. The wiring conductor consists of tinned copper wire but is also available in silver plated copper, pure nickel, or nickel-plated copper wire. Another high voltage wire available is a very flexible lead wire used for VOLT/OHM meters and other testing equipment.
Appliance and Motor Lead Wire
This type of insulated wiring is used for electronics that require higher temperatures such as transformers, motors, ballasts, selenoids as well as other devices. There are many types of wire available such as SIS with 600 volts and withstanding temperatures of up to 90 degrees Celsius. It also is available in gauge sizes of 2 to 14 AWG. A higher temperature wire is type MGS, which replaces MGT. It can withstand 450 degrees Celsius with 600 volts and comes in gauges of 2 to 22 AWG. It is best suitable for industrial ovens, drying equipment, and electric heaters.
Using Uninsulated Wire for Crafts
IIn contrast with insulated wire, uninsulated wire is not a preferable method for electrical applications. Uninsulated wire is mainly used for arts and crafts procedures such as sculptures, jewelry creation, and other craft type purposes. The top three uninsulated wires include aluminum wire, brass wire, and bare copper wire. Each of these wires comes in a variety of gauges, lengths and shapes. They all are quite flexible and perfect for arts and crafts needs.
Aluminum Wire Characteristics
This type of wire is used for a variety of purposes because of its great flexibility. It is also known as armature wire and is greatly used for sculpture creations. The range in thickness is from 1 to 22 AWG and armature wire comes in lengths of 8 feet up to 1738 feet. Aluminum wire is packaged in a variety of ways from coils to spools and stem packs to lengths. The other great characteristic of aluminum wire is that it comes in multiple shapes such as hexagonal, square or any other custom shape desired.
Brass Wire Characteristics
Just like aluminum wire, brass wire is best used for art and craft applications and is great for the creation of jewelry or other small items. It is available in either yellow or red alloys as well as in jewelry bronze and commercial bronze. The thickness of brass wire ranges from 10 to 22 AWG and is available from 32 to 501 feet. The standard packaging methods of this wire comes in increments of 16 oz., 5 lbs., 50 lbs., and 100 lbs.
Bare Copper Wire Characteristics
Bare copper wire is another wire available for crafting uses and, like armature wire, it is quite ductile. This type of wire is best used for busbar crafts, metal finisher’s hanging wire, and grounding purposes. Copper wire is available in gauges of 12 to 40 AWG and comes in a variety of packaging lengths ranging from 50 to 24,000 feet per pound depending on the gauge of the wire. Bare copper wiring can be specially packaged and available in odd or half gauging sizes.
Arcor Electronics provides a variety of uninsulated wires like Aluminum Wire and Brass Wire that come in different gauges and lengths according to the clients needs.