Hi,
I'm wanting to make my project as robust as possible and use thicker wires on my circuit board.
Is there any drawback in using thick wires?
Does it affect the resistance?
thanks.
The short answer is probably not. The long answer is that it depends on what you are doing. If, for example you are doing some very high frequency stuff, it may, and there are other specific situations where thicker may have adverse affects. Generally speaking, for blinking LEDs and other general purpose IO stuff, making your traces a little thicker and using heavier wire gauges shouldn't affect too much. It's also not likely to make your project any "more robust". Wires break mid-span at gauges 24 or higher (smaller)... under normal stresses. Most failures are at the welds (solder defects). Using through hole welds for your wire connections will be more robust than making an SMT connection.
I'm assuming you are talking about a solder type circuit board as opposed to the plugin breadboards.
I'm also assuming you are using relatively low currents**. Then the only benefit of larger wires would be mechanical.
However I think the more important characteristic is flexibility. Solid wires will break due to flexing long before stranded wire will break.
I personally use silicone wire from this vendor ebay silicone wire a number of times. The wires is multistranded (somewhere around 40+ strands) and the insulation does not melt with a soldering iron. I describe the wire a "limp" perfect for small jumper and longer runs.
I am not associated with this vendor in any way. However I have purchased 3 different lots of wire and have been happy with each purchase.
Regarding your resistance question:
- Wire gauge is numerically backward. i.e. the lower the AWG number the larger the wire.
- For every 3 changes in AWG the wire doubles or halves in resistance.
i.e. #26 is 2 times the resistance of #23 - In general, the resistance of short pieces of wire is not significant for most circuits.
** i.e. not current capable of heating small wires.
skyboyflyboy:
Hi,I'm wanting to make my project as robust as possible and use thicker wires on my circuit board.
Is there any drawback in using thick wires?
Does it affect the resistance?
thanks.
We need to know more information what your project is.
Thanks Guys,
Just to expand on what I'm doing....
The project is simply an Arduino Pro Mini 3.3v with an 8 LED Neopixel array and a barometric pressure sensor.
All very small size and short wires between them using a project box with a veroboard style board to mount then on.
Battery will probably be a chargeable Lipo or NiMH.
What's thicker? What is there now?
I was simply meaning the wires between the components that I solder on to the board.
I'm looking to add a level of robustess to my project.
However, @JohnRob may have answered that question.
The multi-strand silicone insulated wires are very flexible and resist conductor breakage.
The main problem with these wires, is the silicone can be easily cut/compromised.
These can be used to make up very nice wiring harnesses, just don’t tie the wires too tight else the insulation ‘will’ be damaged.
You can also make up some nice cabling with Dupont ends.
After saying all this, inexpensive 24-22 AWG by 7/9 stranded wires are just as good, if flexing is not an issue.
Telco cables are a good source for high quality stranded wires.
.
The thicker the individual strands of a wire, the less flexible it is, and the more at risk of
failure due to repeated flexing or vibration. For fixed wiring single strand is OK if vibration isn't
a problem, but in high vibration environments I'd recommend multistrand with fine strands.
Similarly for wiring that's handled, the more flexible the longer its likely to last.
When soldering multistrand wire solder runs up between the strands to some point, and that
point is the most vulnerable point for flexing - if you can add strain relief of some form so movement
of the wire doesn't get to that point, it will enhance reliability.