Ceriatone Forum

Anyone have any suggestions for getting the twisted wires to lay nice in a chassis?

For instance, I can get a nice twist on a pair of wires by putting one end in the vice and the other in the chuck of my screw gun, then letter' rip. But after that it is hard to get the wire tension out so they lye down nice. I have been using electrical tape so far.

Thanks for any advice.

I know some of the wire Nik supplies has a hard insulation cover and I have found that it pays to warm it up with a hot air gun before you do the last few turns with your drill. It then seems to hold its shape better when you remove it from the chuck.

As hywelg mentioned, Teflon wire can be murder. Solid wire has good memory and so does "regular" plastic insulation. So try some different wire. Maybe switch to 20 AWG for the pre tubes.
Good Luck

  Would be good to answer this since we get this all the time:

  There's nothing special in the wire or way we twist the heaters.

  We use regular UL1015 wire (PVC), and then clamp 1 side (use whatever, a real clamp even)and twist.

  Work patiently, you'd be able to see if the twist goes nice or not.

  Twist quite some length. You'd cut em to do each section (tube to tube). Approx roughly before cutting - cut extra, cause you'd need to solder, and then re-shape so it sits nice.
 
  I guess a video would be good for this. But key is twisting nicely, and also patience! :)

Thanks!

Nik
 

Hi guys

I'm just starting a HRM Bluesmaster 50 (but I will try first with four 6V6, then with a pair of 5881 and maybe a pair of KT66), but I guess that I will love the four 6V6 !

Since we are on the subject of heater wiring, is it better to lay the heater wires flat on the chassis (a la Marshall) or in the ''air'' (a la Fender) to minimize the noise on this kind of amp ?

Thank, Jean

The short answer is "yes".  Either method will work just fine long as you keep the grid wires a reasonable distance away from  the heater wires. 

I've built some clones that didn't even twist the wires and had no hum issues.  The Soldano SLO 100 and X88R 3 channel preamp are good examples.

My SLO clone from 99'.

http://webpages.charter.net/jlemoine/preamp.jpg (http://webpages.charter.net/jlemoine/preamp.jpg)

(http://webpages.charter.net/jlemoine/preamp.jpg)

Grounding layout seems to be the most important hum producer with tube quality and output bias matching also a consideration.

And as far as the OP, get your wiring in position however you can with removable tape, hot glue, tie wraps and wooden splints, whatever and after a period of time, it will "set" into that position and you can remove the sticky stuff later.  Heat speeds up the process. 

I know, I know, you want to take those pretty pictures of the insides and show it off, but after a few years, you can remove every tie, strap, or whatever in a piece of electronics and not a single wire will move.

the colors of wires are so important, wiring work is so easy.

 8)

Here's a great heater wiring video. Maybe it'll help someone.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O0_dlKkzSE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxFBid3r8aM&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFghwLDOPsA&feature=relmfu