Wire for homebuilts.

I've come across a supply of wire at a reasonable price that I think I
want to use to wire my plane. It is NOT aircraft wire, but I have all
the spec on it. It is MTW (machine tool wire) AMW 1015/1230, FT1 and
VM1 rated. The 18 guage is 16 strand. Insulation is PVC (not
crosslinked) rated for -55 to 106C and 600 volts (1200 for
electronics) Some also has TEW rating.
It is wire designed for use in machine tool cabinets and appliances,
and is oil and fuel resistant.

Any reason not to use this? I have 3 colours of 18awg, 3 colours of
14awg, and 2 of 14awg. There is likely more available. It is non
tinned wire.

One good reason not to use it would be the PVC insulation. PVC when burned
gives off toxic fumes. Not the kind of thing you want in the cockpit at
altitude. I know you can't use PVC covered CAT 5 cable in common air
passages/ductwork like above ceiling tile because of this. We use "plenum"
cable that is Teflon coated I believe.

--
David D Cowell
Wildcat Computers, Inc.
http://www.wildcatcomputers.net
800-686-4685
clare @ snyder.on .ca wrote in message
...
I've come across a supply of wire at a reasonable price that I think I
want to use to wire my plane. It is NOT aircraft wire, but I have all
the spec on it. It is MTW (machine tool wire) AMW 1015/1230, FT1 and
VM1 rated. The 18 guage is 16 strand. Insulation is PVC (not
crosslinked) rated for -55 to 106C and 600 volts (1200 for
electronics) Some also has TEW rating.
It is wire designed for use in machine tool cabinets and appliances,
and is oil and fuel resistant.

Any reason not to use this? I have 3 colours of 18awg, 3 colours of
14awg, and 2 of 14awg. There is likely more available. It is non
tinned wire.

On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 21:11:25 -0500, "David D Cowell"
wrote:

One good reason not to use it would be the PVC insulation. PVC when burned
gives off toxic fumes. Not the kind of thing you want in the cockpit at
altitude. I know you can't use PVC covered CAT 5 cable in common air
passages/ductwork like above ceiling tile because of this. We use "plenum"
cable that is Teflon coated I believe.
Non plenum rated cable is VM2 of FT2
Plenum rated wire is VM1 or FT1 wire.
The wire I have is FT1 and VM1 rated -
Teflon when heated above 600F will cause "polymer fume fever" just
like PVC

When Teflon burns it creates the same problems as PVC.

David D Cowell wrote:

One good reason not to use it would be the PVC insulation. PVC when burned
gives off toxic fumes. Not the kind of thing you want in the cockpit at
altitude. I know you can't use PVC covered CAT 5 cable in common air
passages/ductwork like above ceiling tile because of this. We use "plenum"
cable that is Teflon coated I believe.

--
David D Cowell
Wildcat Computers, Inc.
http://www.wildcatcomputers.net
800-686-4685
clare @ snyder.on .ca wrote in message
...
I've come across a supply of wire at a reasonable price that I think I
want to use to wire my plane. It is NOT aircraft wire, but I have all
the spec on it. It is MTW (machine tool wire) AMW 1015/1230, FT1 and
VM1 rated. The 18 guage is 16 strand. Insulation is PVC (not
crosslinked) rated for -55 to 106C and 600 volts (1200 for
electronics) Some also has TEW rating.
It is wire designed for use in machine tool cabinets and appliances,
and is oil and fuel resistant.

Any reason not to use this? I have 3 colours of 18awg, 3 colours of
14awg, and 2 of 14awg. There is likely more available. It is non
tinned wire.

--
Bruce A. Frank, Editor "Ford 3.8/4.2L Engine and V-6 STOL
Homebuilt Aircraft Newsletter"
| Publishing interesting material|
| on all aspects of alternative |
| engines and homebuilt aircraft.|
*------------------------------**----*
\(-o-)/ AIRCRAFT PROJECTS CO.
\___/ Manufacturing parts & pieces
/ \ for homebuilt aircraft,
0 0 TIG welding

While trying to find the time to finish mine.

I just saved a box of mil-spec teflon insulated wire from the garbage.
Check industrial surplus (or e-bay?) you can find partial rolls
because those kinds of companies are constantly getting rid of old
stock at the back door and buying new rolls at the front.

I've vaporized the PVC on a short circuit, made a big puff of smoke.
People are saying that teflon will do the same thing, but its going to
have to be hotter.

The teflon insulation is easier to work with because it does
burn/melt/shrink away when you're soldering a stripped end.

Regards

clare @ snyder.on .ca wrote in message . ..
I've come across a supply of wire at a reasonable price that I think I
want to use to wire my plane. It is NOT aircraft wire, but I have all
the spec on it. It is MTW (machine tool wire) AMW 1015/1230, FT1 and
VM1 rated. The 18 guage is 16 strand. Insulation is PVC (not
crosslinked) rated for -55 to 106C and 600 volts (1200 for
electronics) Some also has TEW rating.
It is wire designed for use in machine tool cabinets and appliances,
and is oil and fuel resistant.

Any reason not to use this? I have 3 colours of 18awg, 3 colours of
14awg, and 2 of 14awg. There is likely more available. It is non
tinned wire.

"Jay" wrote

I've vaporized the PVC on a short circuit, made a big puff of smoke.
People are saying that teflon will do the same thing, but its going to
have to be hotter.

The teflon insulation is easier to work with because it does
burn/melt/shrink away when you're soldering a stripped end.

Regards


Do some searching on teflon toxcicidy. It starts being a problem as low as
500 degrees F.

Enough to kill birds, very quickly. How would that do for us?
--
Jim in NC


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Do some searching on teflon toxcicidy. It starts being a problem as low as
500 degrees F.

Enough to kill birds, very quickly. How would that do for us?

Being that we're sometimes called "birdmen" I guess it would be none
to good. I don't doubt that its bad for us too. I was just saying
that it seems to take more heat to turn into something you can breath.

On 24 Mar 2004 10:18:05 -0800, (Jay) wrote:

Do some searching on teflon toxcicidy. It starts being a problem as low as
500 degrees F.

Enough to kill birds, very quickly. How would that do for us?

Being that we're sometimes called "birdmen" I guess it would be none
to good. I don't doubt that its bad for us too. I was just saying
that it seems to take more heat to turn into something you can breath.


I just did a flame test on a sample of MTW (machine tool wire). It is
FT1 and VW1 rated (plenum install) meaning it will not sustain
combustion. I tried to light it with a butane torch - with flame
applied it burned with a small sputtering smoky flame- it did not drip
or melt - and the fire went out immediately when I shut off the gas.

Spec is amw 1015/1230

You could always run your wire through woven glass sleeve
if visions of vapor are standing in the way of progress.
Ceramic beads would work too but are heavier. Or if the airframe
is all non-conducting composite, or wood, just route bare wires
and don't worry about insulation. Of course you'll still have
the fumes/smoke problem if they get hot. Best is no wire. Just
send a kid out on the wing with a kerosene lamp or a burning handful
of straw(like the kid shimmying up the mast on the fishing junks in the
South China sea when the see your cable dragger bearing down on them.
Cable over nets like stone over scizzors or sail over power unless power
is dragging cable. Dragging cable has ROW over everything. You thought
flying was complicated.

tongaloa wrote:

You could always run your wire through woven glass sleeve
if visions of vapor are standing in the way of progress.
Ceramic beads would work too but are heavier. Or if the airframe
is all non-conducting composite, or wood, just route bare wires
and don't worry about insulation. Of course you'll still have
the fumes/smoke problem if they get hot. Best is no wire. Just
send a kid out on the wing with a kerosene lamp or a burning handful
of straw(like the kid shimmying up the mast on the fishing junks in the
South China sea when the see your cable dragger bearing down on them.
Cable over nets like stone over scizzors or sail over power unless power
is dragging cable. Dragging cable has ROW over everything. You thought
flying was complicated.

Or?

Design the electrical system with the corect protection devices
(fuses and/or breakers) so that it CAN'T catch fire...

Just a thought.

Richard