kythri
Well-known member
Where's the current "best" source for decent quality copper wire? Looking to pick up a few 100' spools of a few different AWG sizes in a few different colors.
Best Source for "Bulk" Wire?
- Thread starter kythri
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malibu101
Well-known member
Besides the AWG gauge, the bigger question is what kind of insulation on the wire do you need?
Are you wiring a house or a car?
Are you wiring a house or a car?
Wamsutta
Well-known member
FigureItOut
Well-known member
I use waytekwire.com. Del City is another popular supplier but I've personally gotten a little frustrated with them on a couple occasions. Both provide good quality wire in a large variety of sizes and colors at a good price. Waytek if I remember gives more details about the characteristics and specs of the different insulation choices.
Locally, Napa usually carries good quality in spools or by the foot, most of the selection will not be out, you have to ask.
Locally, Napa usually carries good quality in spools or by the foot, most of the selection will not be out, you have to ask.
I see your point about wire size. It brings up a funny memory. I needed insulated faston connectors at work. I think they were the red ones for 18 to 22 gauge. I sent a note to our stock clerk with a skew, for Grainger. She did not order them because:" "I asked for 18 to 22 and the ones in the catalog were 22 to 18". You can't make this stuff up.
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guy48065
Well-known member
I go through a fair amount of 12ga generic "primary" wire with pvc insulation. Can anyone beat $21 a 100ft spool?
Dave455
Well-known member
Don't know about the U.S. but here in the U.K. I source all my wire from an electrical fitting wholesaler. Because they get through so much wire and cable they get a really good deal from the suppliers, and you can order anything!
matt_i
Well-known member
I gave up on PVC grade wire and use THHN these days. I'm just doing small additive stuff or building simple wire harnesses for my tractors, not making stuff for sale where the volume cost would be a thing. And it carries right over into doing AC and DC control wiring for other automation type projects.
anndel
Well-known member
I bought South Wire brand at both Home Depot and Lowes.
Mike.ASC
Well-known member
I can't say who "the best" is but I have purchased from this company a couple of times and have been very pleased with the service and products. They even send a free print catalog with my order. http://terminalsupplyco.com/
I've been happy with Waytek, good descriptions and good products, just a bit expensive on the shipping. I've found some decent deals on Amazon as well.
Skiff Builder
Well-known member
https://www.wireandcableyourway.com/Primary-Wire/All kinds of cable/wire here.
Lelandwelds
Well-known member
Yes. Nylon. Kinda stiff.
2004EP3HATCH
Well-known member
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You can try Anixter wire. I buy in bulk from them. I think they willl sell to you.
I have an account with Anixter for my day job, so I'm sure I could get them to sell to me outside of that, just hadn't thought of them for this, which was a dumb idea on my part - I don't buy electrical components from them, so I blank that they sell a hell of a lot more than what I buy.
I'll have to ping my account manager and see what kind of prices they can get me.
I'll have to ping my account manager and see what kind of prices they can get me.
Bad Habit
Well-known member
That's the rub. For what you're looking for though, if you can't find at a local electronics/hardware store, you're probably going to be better off with a Waytech, Del City, or Remy Battery, even with shipping. You maybe able to get a "good guy" deal at Anixter, but they won't cut the smaller sizes and may not even have what you're looking for. Same with Graybar, Windy City Wire, CSC, etc
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
There is a lot of inexpensive wire on eBay, but you have to know what is "cheap" and what is good.
First, "primary" or "hook-up) wire usually has insulation that is rated to only about 50-60V. Fine for automotive use. "Marine" grade wire is great for automotive use because each individual stranded is tinned and it will not corrode.
Insulation is also rated by temperature, an issue if you are soldering. UL 1015 wire is good to 105C (221F). UL 1007 is only good for 80C (176F). There are newer "standards" for automotive use that use cross-linked polyethylene insulation (GXL is most common). A bit more expensive, but thinner and higher temperature rated (125C)
When you get above that, I'm not very good ! Typical "house" wire is only rated for 300V. The next step up is 600V. There are dozens of different type of insulation. Many over lap specified usage, but THHN and THWN are commonly use for branch circuits inside of a conduit.
EDIT : Any PVC insulation will degrade/swell/fall apart when exposed to oil for long periods which is why the automotive industry switched to cross-linked polyethylene.
First, "primary" or "hook-up) wire usually has insulation that is rated to only about 50-60V. Fine for automotive use. "Marine" grade wire is great for automotive use because each individual stranded is tinned and it will not corrode.
Insulation is also rated by temperature, an issue if you are soldering. UL 1015 wire is good to 105C (221F). UL 1007 is only good for 80C (176F). There are newer "standards" for automotive use that use cross-linked polyethylene insulation (GXL is most common). A bit more expensive, but thinner and higher temperature rated (125C)
When you get above that, I'm not very good ! Typical "house" wire is only rated for 300V. The next step up is 600V. There are dozens of different type of insulation. Many over lap specified usage, but THHN and THWN are commonly use for branch circuits inside of a conduit.
EDIT : Any PVC insulation will degrade/swell/fall apart when exposed to oil for long periods which is why the automotive industry switched to cross-linked polyethylene.
Last edited:
How does MTW do in an automotive application?
KDubU
Member
I use these guys for the 4awg copper I ran to my garage. Arrived quickly and price seemed ok.
https://www.wireandcableyourway.com/8-awg-thhn-building-wire.html
https://www.wireandcableyourway.com/8-awg-thhn-building-wire.html
When searching around for explanations of what each wire offers for my own automotive project I stumbled on to this site which has a good breakdown of differences.
https://www.wirebarn.com/Wire-Selection-Guide-_ep_29.html
BaMaDuDe87
Well-known member
Re: Best Source for "Bulk" Wire?
Haven't looked in awhile, but check monoprice.com?
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Haven't looked in awhile, but check monoprice.com?
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Waytek often has low prices, but my last order for ATM/DTM components went to Mouser because they were about half the cost of Waytek so it definitely helps to shop around. Of course my big problems with Waytek are that the site is slow and clunky and that their support is pretty much non-existent. UPS lost my last Waytek order and the official Waytek response (which itself took a couple phone calls) was "here are all the things we could do, but we won't." There are plenty of places to buy wire, but with that attitude I wouldn't bother with Waytek.