What kind of insulated wire should I use to hard wire old radios?
I have a few old radios that have some insulation off of them. I don’t want to fire them up this way. Please, I need help.
If function is the only concern, all you have to do is ensure that you replace any wires with at least the same gauge or higher. That covers the current rating, which is a function of the conductor cross-section. Hardware store/home Depot wire is all 600V rated (except for the low-voltage doorbell wire, I think that’s 300V-rated). The voltage rating is a function of the insulation.
If you’re restoring and want identical wire, search around the web for antique radio repair/hardware sources, I think you can still find places that sell the more common vacuum tubes and cloth-covered wire.
If you mean the power cord, replace the cord and plug with a new one, that you can buy at any hardware store.
If you mean the internal wiring, that depends on the location and use of the wire. Sometimes you can just check that the bare part is not close to anything else, sometimes some electrical tape can be used, sometimes you have to replace the wire.
References :
If function is the only concern, all you have to do is ensure that you replace any wires with at least the same gauge or higher. That covers the current rating, which is a function of the conductor cross-section. Hardware store/home Depot wire is all 600V rated (except for the low-voltage doorbell wire, I think that’s 300V-rated). The voltage rating is a function of the insulation.
If you’re restoring and want identical wire, search around the web for antique radio repair/hardware sources, I think you can still find places that sell the more common vacuum tubes and cloth-covered wire.
References :