About wires

highny · September 19th, 2009, 17:21

Hey guys, quick question.

What type of wires should I use for my ICS m4? The inside wire colour is like silver. What type is that, and is it alright to extend the wire with copper?

Doombringer · September 19th, 2009, 18:35

Silver is a better conductor, copper is still an excellent electrical conductor, and it's a lot cheaper. People use silver wiring (really expensive) for audio/video since it usually gives a clearer signal. For airsoft use, stick to copper wire, it's not worth paying 50x the price of copper wires. Of course, there are different qualities in copper wires. Get one with a good insulation, I would go with a single-stranded wire for internals. Better conduction than multi-stranded but less flexible.

Just make sure not to take a wire that is too small, you'll increase the resistance and it's capacity to conduct before starting to heat up.

Hope it's clear enough, my syntax is bad, sorry.

highny · September 19th, 2009, 18:53

Is it alright to connect two different types of wire to make a longer one?

Doombringer · September 19th, 2009, 19:26

Sure, why not? try to use 2 similarly sized wires (thickness, same AWG)

AWG: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge

highny · September 19th, 2009, 23:01

Well, different resistance? Or that doesn't play an affect as much for it to matter?

CDN_Stalker · September 20th, 2009, 01:32

As long as the two wires are similar diameter, it'll be fine. As far as resistance goes, wire resistance is determined as resistance per thousand feet, so the difference between #16 and #18 is less than 2 ohms per thousand feet......really doesn't apply to our using a foot or two of wire in our guns.

highny · September 20th, 2009, 03:30

Oh ok. Well I picked up some wires today at canadain tires. I'm not sure how big my wires are, but the outside of the wires look about the same. Also the number of the little wires look to be about the same. How can I be sure?

xelamander · September 20th, 2009, 07:09

AWG.

Bissa · September 20th, 2009, 08:05

isn't gold preferred for high quality audio systems? or is that just the plugs?

highny · September 20th, 2009, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by xelamander

AWG.

OH! I see it on the wire it's writen 16 or 18 AWG.... It's gotten smudge... If it's 16AWG, then that means it'll work fine with 18AWG wires right? Since it's larger?

CDN_Stalker · September 20th, 2009, 12:29

It'll be fine, but depending on your gun set up and where the wires are run, you might not be able fit parts together, risk chewing up the wire insulation (especially if it has thick insulation),etc.

highny · September 20th, 2009, 15:23

That wouldn't be a problem. Because the wiring that I need to weld together is just outside the body of my gun. Thanks guys for the great help!

CDN_Stalker · September 20th, 2009, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by highny

That wouldn't be a problem. Because the wiring that I need to weld together is just outside the body of my gun. Thanks guys for the great help!

Solder, not weld. And make sure you have some heat shrink to cover the solder joint, black electrocution tape won't work as well.

highny · September 20th, 2009, 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDN_Stalker

Solder, not weld. And make sure you have some heat shrink to cover the solder joint, black electrocution tape won't work as well.

Man, back to Canadian tires I go.... Sigh... I guess the 5 rolls of electrical tape I bought is unless now... Sigh...

Thanks again for all the help! I really learn a lot about wires. Thanks.

Edit: What's the difference between 16AWG and 16 ag?

The new wires I got says 16 ag where as on my airsoft gun's wire it says 16 AWG... Did I buy the wrong type again?....

Also, I just realized those wire I got are for automotive, would that make a difference?...

Home	Forums	Register	Gallery	FAQ	Calendar
Retailers	Community	News/Info	International Retailers	IRC	Today's Posts

British Columbia	Alberta
BCAC	EAR
Op-For	JOC
Northern Arms Airsoft	Skunkworx Airsoft
Airsoft Kelowna	RAAT
Prince George Airsoft	Manitoba
Saskatchewan	MAA
SK Airsoft	Ontario
PDW	Airsoft Ottawa
South Sask Mercs	Snow Dragons
Quebec	1st Ranger Platoon
PQAC	Wolfpack Tactical
1st Pathfinders Regiment	TTAC3
Quebec Airsoft
MTX Airsoft	Atlantic
FAQc	Atlantic Airsoft

September 20th, 2009, 01:32	#6
CDN_Stalker Official ASC Bladesmith Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ont.	As long as the two wires are similar diameter, it'll be fine. As far as resistance goes, wire resistance is determined as resistance per thousand feet, so the difference between #16 and #18 is less than 2 ohms per thousand feet......really doesn't apply to our using a foot or two of wire in our guns. __________________ STKR Knives http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/STK...17036668380871

September 20th, 2009, 07:09	#8
xelamander Trader rating Join Date: Sep 2009	AWG. __________________ just because i don't... doesn't mean i can't.

September 20th, 2009, 12:29	#11
CDN_Stalker Official ASC Bladesmith Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ont.	It'll be fine, but depending on your gun set up and where the wires are run, you might not be able fit parts together, risk chewing up the wire insulation (especially if it has thick insulation),etc. __________________ STKR Knives http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/STK...17036668380871

September 19th, 2009, 17:21	#1
highny Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Calgary	About wires Hey guys, quick question. What type of wires should I use for my ICS m4? The inside wire colour is like silver. What type is that, and is it alright to extend the wire with copper?

September 19th, 2009, 18:35	#2
Doombringer Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Plateau, Montreal	Silver is a better conductor, copper is still an excellent electrical conductor, and it's a lot cheaper. People use silver wiring (really expensive) for audio/video since it usually gives a clearer signal. For airsoft use, stick to copper wire, it's not worth paying 50x the price of copper wires. Of course, there are different qualities in copper wires. Get one with a good insulation, I would go with a single-stranded wire for internals. Better conduction than multi-stranded but less flexible. Just make sure not to take a wire that is too small, you'll increase the resistance and it's capacity to conduct before starting to heat up. Hope it's clear enough, my syntax is bad, sorry.

September 19th, 2009, 18:53	#3
highny Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Calgary	Is it alright to connect two different types of wire to make a longer one?

September 19th, 2009, 19:26	#4
Doombringer Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Plateau, Montreal	Sure, why not? try to use 2 similarly sized wires (thickness, same AWG) AWG: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge

September 19th, 2009, 23:01	#5
highny Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Calgary	Well, different resistance? Or that doesn't play an affect as much for it to matter?

September 20th, 2009, 03:30	#7
highny Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Calgary	Oh ok. Well I picked up some wires today at canadain tires. I'm not sure how big my wires are, but the outside of the wires look about the same. Also the number of the little wires look to be about the same. How can I be sure?

September 20th, 2009, 08:05	#9
Bissa Trader rating Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kelowna, BC	isn't gold preferred for high quality audio systems? or is that just the plugs?

September 20th, 2009, 15:23	#12
highny Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Calgary	That wouldn't be a problem. Because the wiring that I need to weld together is just outside the body of my gun. Thanks guys for the great help!

About wires

Doctor's Corner