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Copper wire question - hair wire

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    wayne1956 started this thread.
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    Copper wire question - hair wire

    In surfing I have found many of the definitions on websites for #2 copper wire says free of "hair wire", but I have not been able to find a definition for it. What is hair wire, and what kind of insulated wiring would it come out of?



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    Hair wire is that thin brittle crap that breaks when you bend it. It isn't insulated. I forget now what I had that it was in.
    People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.

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    wayne1956 started this thread.
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    Thanks, that helps to clear it up. I wasn't sure if they were talking about that thin braided wire that comes out of cords and wiring harnesses (when you strip it) or not, as I have close to 100 lbs of that (stripped wire). I have not had any that broke when I tried to bend it, so I guess I have not come across any hair wire (yet), but I will know better how to identify it.

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    THHN is the thin braided stuff. it does not typically break when bent, and comes in various gauges. it is usually found in those wire harnesses from appliances and electronics
    We're the renegades of Junk!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kris Kringle View Post
    I searched the web here is what I came up with.

    hay·wire (hwr)
    n.
    Wire used in baling hay.
    adj. Informal
    1. Mentally confused or erratic; crazy: went haywire over the interminable delays. {Yeah that be Bad to have Crazy Mixed in with your wire}

    2. Not functioning properly; broken.
    If #1 doesn't fit see #2...If #2 doesn't fit see #1.
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    hair wire is usually found in class 2 transformers and very small motors. I just mix it with my #2 have had no problem here.

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    wayne1956 started this thread.
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    Quote Originally Posted by olddude View Post
    hair wire is usually found in class 2 transformers and very small motors. I just mix it with my #2 have had no problem here.
    Yeah, I have seen that real fine wire in the small motors, and wondered if that was what they called angel hair wire. Those I just usually throw in my electric motors pile.

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    I find a bit of it in washing machine solenoids, the 2 that operate the water input valves (25gms each solenoid)


    They are a easy pick, not worth much though.
    I use a screwdriver to wedge the metal bands off, pick out the plastic bit too.
    The I put two screwdrivers into it, one at each end, then use them to lever out one end of the plastic case.
    That pops out taking some wire with it, then I take a 'copper ball' that I have & start winding the wire (2 - 4 at a time) onto it, around & around & the ball gets bigger.
    Then when its finished I might have to pick the last out with a screwdriver.
    The wire size varys a lot too.
    Last edited by eesakiwi; 11-03-2011 at 09:03 PM.

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    hair wire is typically found in battery/welding cable, as well as many other applications. I buy it as a #1 if it is clean= non insulated, unplated, and free of any attachments. Even if shinny/brite hair wire will never be a bare brite. smelters say some is lost when reclaiming, burns up and out the flu.

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    I Thought that it was no smaller than 16 gage

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    Hair wire is just that.....it's about as thin as hair. It's that wire that you'd pull from a small transformer on a motherboard. But like one of the posts said, I just put it with my #2 and they accept it as such. Actually, they pretty much take anything here that isn't #1 as #2, even if it's burnt.


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