32 AWG Magnet wire for SMT components???

Jorge P

I don't have any thin wire for connections on a SMT component, I only have Magnet wire at 32AWG, is it safe to use that as a substitute?

It will be used on an I2C expander inside of a "HO Slot Car" (1975 ThunderJet Chassis) directly above an 18Volt motor, and will control vehicle lighting and motor speed.

I would assume that it would pickup noise from the motor.... but I have plans to use some scrapped RFI sheilding from an old Monitor between the motor and circuit.

Leon

You might have problems soldering it. Wire-wrap wire is much easier to use.

Publison

Jorge P wrote: »

I don't have any thin wire for connections on a SMT component, I only have Magnet wire at 32AWG, is it safe to use that as a substitute?

It will be used on an I2C expander inside of a "HO Slot Car" (1975 ThunderJet Chassis) directly above an 18Volt motor, and will control vehicle lighting and motor speed.

I would assume that it would pickup noise from the motor.... but I have plans to use some scrapped RFI sheilding from an old Monitor between the motor and circuit.

"Magnet Wire" really does not have any magnetic properties unless it is wound on a coil. It's just wire. Trying to strip the lacquer of is the hardest part. You can try and scrape it off, but the easiest way is to burn it off with a lighter. I just did 46 connections using this method with green magnet wire that connected to LED's hidden in green foliage.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Ditto Leon's comments: use wire-wrap wire (30 ga.) and a stripping tool designed for it. Magnet wire is a huge pain to strip. It has its place -- for coils and such -- but it would be a struggle for what you want to do.

BTW, here's a hint for stripping short pieces of wire-wrap wire:

1. With the wire still on the sool, strip about an inch off the end to start.
2. When you need a piece with, say, 3/4" of insulation, begin to strip that much off.
3. When the insulation gets near the end of the wire, stop, leaving just enough bare wire to make the connection.
4. Clip the wire to length.
5. Once the bare end on the spool gets short, strip off another inch.

I used to clip the wire after stripping just enough off the first end, then hold the short piece in my teeth to strip the other end. 'Took years to figure out the better way. D'oh!

-Phil

Publison

OK. I was out voted.

30 GA Wire Wrap wire is available at Radio Shack.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062642&numProdsPerPage=60

My suggestion was only if the OP needed to effect a repair or build at the moment. It is good to have 30 Ga Kynar on hand at all times.

kwinn

Publison wrote: »

"Magnet Wire" really does not have any magnetic properties unless it is wound on a coil. It's just wire. Trying to strip the lacquer of is the hardest part. You can try and scrape it off, but the easiest way is to burn it off with a lighter. I just did 46 connections using this method with green magnet wire that connected to LED's hidden in green foliage.

Dipping the wire end to be soldered in nail polish remover and wiping it with cloth or paper towel works.

Jorge P

I don't have wire-wrap wire or I would use that, I only have magnet wire. I can grab some acetone from my sister to clean the ends.

Thanks for the replies, just want the info as to whether the magnet wire shouldn't be used.

wass

You don't need to strip the coating off the magnet wire you can solder right through it. The heat from the solder will melt off the coating and you'll get a good connection. This was/is the basis of the Vector P178-1 Wiring Pencel from the 1970's, I still have one and use it all the time. I've made many 1000's of connections this way and once you learn how to do it well it goes pretty fast and has a much lower profile than wire wrap.

They don't sell this any more but you can make your own:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Wiring-Pen/

-Katie

Jorge P

Thanks for that instructable link, I have used a similar tool for feeding solder but forgot about it until I read your post and followed the link. I have an Inkjet Refill kit that comes with some parts I can use for this.