Where can I find 17 AWG copper wire??? 1

[Barry1492]

I'm in Delaware and am in need of 17 gauge bare copper wire. I only need about 15 feet. 17 gauge seems to be hard to find.

Does anyone know a good source?

 

[debodine]

Stepping up to AWG 16 is not acceptable due to some physical restraints?

 

[Barry1492]

I went ahead and ordered 18 gauge. It is for a sensor that senses changes in impedence and, so I am told, the tolerances are very tight. All calculations were based off of 17 gauge (wasn't my decision).

It turns out that 17 is not as readily available as the even numbered gauges.

 

[Skogsgurra]

I do not think that 16, 17 or 18 matters, really. I would select 16 if I were you. Makes the (probably parasitic) winding resistance a little lower.

 

[nbucska]

What kind of sensor do you want to make? If thermal or
strain gage, you can rescale it.

<nbucska@pcperipherals DOT com> subj: eng-tips
read FAQ240-1032

 

[buzzp]

I am sure whatever you use can be calibrated out.

I never ever heard of 17AWG wire.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Make a drawing die, and draw 16 gage wire manually to 17 gage.





Mike Halloran
NOT speaking for
DeAngelo Marine Exhaust Inc.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA

 

[Barry1492]

It is for a Time Domain Reflectometry sensor. It can sense resin flow in a composite part if one were to infuse where you couldn't visualy see the flow front.

TDR sensors are out of my field and experience so I can't really say how much of a difference 0.005" would make.

 

[Skogsgurra]

I infer that it is about a magnetostrictive sensor using a magnetic core. In such a case the wire dimension has very little to say. If it is electric or optic TDE, then I do not see any 17 gauge wire at all - or 16.

Of course, it could also be a voice coil in a loudspeakerlike transducer. Then gauge may have quite a large influence. Ask the guy that designed it to use real-world material and have him redesign it.

 

[NEWFIEBOY]

Hi Barry 1492
You will have a hard time finding 17 gauge wire here in North America, I have never heard of such a size in AWG. I was wondering how close you could get to 17 gauge if you were to try a metric wire size from Europe.

 

[BJC]

Could you parallel two # 34s ?

 

[Skogsgurra]

NEWFIEBOY,

A 1 square millimeter European wire is spot on (almost). The #17 wire has 1.038 mm2 area and the 1 mm2 has - yes, you guessed it - 1 mm square. The error is about 4 percent.

Going to #16 results in a 1.309 mm2 area and the #18 will give you 0.8231 mm2. Both are obviously bad choices compared to the 1 mm2 wire.

The #34 is way below half a #17. The #34 has 0.1601 mm2. You would need six in parallel to have the same area.

 

[ScottI2R]

Skogs,
Yes we do love our math, do we not? I was going to suggest exploring metric size wire as well, but I have been beaten to the finish line (AGAIN)! My cross sectional conversion chart is on my cube wall @ work and I am on the road now, so, I'm glad somebody had the answer. Never heard of 17ga. in the US either.
Scott

In a hundred years, it isn't going to matter anyway.

 

[Barry1492]

We're definitely not going to parallel anything, but thanks for the tip. The sensor behaves more like an antenae.

Anyway, I've already ordered the 16 gauge wire and we're going to finish the job this week (time is money ).

The guy who gave me this value is, in fact, European. I think he made his calculations based off of 1mm wire and then converted it to AWG since we are in America. This might explain why he didn't know that you can't really get 17AWG.

Thanks for the advice. I feel twice as informed on the subject than I did 2 days ago. Guess it's time to ask for a raise .

 

[SolderingGunslinger]

IIRC, the only odd-numbered AWG copper wires readily available are 1, 13 and 27. Digging through some old charts, i found one which lists the diameter of 17AWG copper wire as 1.15mm (.0453").

My grandfather did silver and precious metal work before his death. I remember going through his things getting ready to settle the estate and was somewhat supprised to find that silver and gold wire did indeed come in odd AWG numbers.(or I assume it was AWG numbers) The TDRs I work with are for wavelengths of 500 meters and shorter so I cannot fathom why a silver wire would be needed in a TDR lead. Somebody must make 17 AWG wire. Perhaps this is but another way a manufacturer has found to keep all parts and service "in the factory" for greater profits.

I remain,

The Old Soldering Gunslinger

 

[sreid]

Take a look at MWS wire. I'm certain you can get 17 ga (and half gages too). They sell in small quantities (10 lb spool?).

http://www.mwswire.com/

 

[Barry1492]

He he.....I'll save the site info. However, I was thiking more like 1/4 lb. We're a research facility....not manufacturing. I only need 3 feet of wire.

Thanks

 

[Skogsgurra]

I have more than 30 feet of 1 mm2 wire. I can clip five feet and send you in an envelope if you want. Just send your address to xgxuxnxnxaxrxaxtxgxkxexdxoxtxoxrxgx. Remove the x.

 

[Comcokid]

Sensors that use a TDR type approach usually have one of three kinds of transmission line probes; 1) coaxial arrangement (small wire/tube inside a larger tube, 2) Balanced transmission line consisting of parallel conductors, or 3) Goubau transmission line which is a single wire with a flat-plate or funnel-shaped 'launcher' (the launcher may be metal sheet or just a few wires).

The impedance of a coaxial-type probe is easily affected by OD center-conductor and ID outer conductor sizes. Impedance of balanced transmission line is less affected by wire size. Goubau-line wire size is almost unimportant.

You indicate your probe is like an antenna, so this leads me to think the probe is a Goubau-line type. Since you only need three feet, I would suggest get some copper tubing made by K&S Enginnering - found at your local hobby shop. They list a 3/64" (.047") in 3ft lenghts as standard. You could also use small diameter stainless rod or wire which is usually available in decimal inch or metric sizes.

 

[sreid]

MWS might sell smaller quantities. 1/4 lb of number 17 ga is about 50 feet.

If anyone is interested the formula for wire diameter vs. gage is given by

Diameter (inches) = 10^-[(AWG+10)/20]

For 17 AWG the diameter is 0.0446 inches.