Welding Wire vs. Audio Power Wire

[treme 10+ year member]

Sorry if this seems like a duplicate post, but I could not really find anything via the search.

What are some pros & cons to using welding wire vs. your traditional audio power wire? Can welding wire the same quality as audio power wire? Or are there specific criteria that makes a certain wire better? e.g. Oxygen free and 100% copper

Thanks for all your help.

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[HellsRise 10+ year member]

There is no difference. You'd think, with being around for 5 years, you'd know how to use the Search function.

 

[Atimm693 10+ year member]

Copper is copper.

Not much different except cosmetics.

 

[treme 10+ year member]

I have read many posts and all I can really tell is that they are pretty much the same...people mention strand count, oxygen free and flexability...I just thought there was more to it. If there is really not much difference then why can your traditional power wire cost so much more than welding wire? Is it all branding?

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Actual wire size, flexibility, brand name.

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

Copper is copper.
Not much different except cosmetics.

So tinned copper is the same as 100% oxygen free copper? I think not.

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

I have read many posts and all I can really tell is that they are pretty much the same...people mention strand count, oxygen free and flexability...I just thought there was more to it. If there is really not much difference then why can your traditional power wire cost so much more than welding wire? Is it all branding?

It's mostly cause of the brand name and the pretty colors they want you to buy. Car audio wire normally has a higher thread count to make it more flexible. Oxygen free wire is better than tinned copper, but I don't think you'll see tinned wire in welding wire. I've known guys to run both kinds of wires, some said they welding wire was better, some said it wasn't. I'd say if it's cheaper for you then get some. You should be able to find a larger gauge welding wire for less money than some of the car audio wire.

 

[Fusion_FREAK 10+ year member]

I use single strand 0/1 AWG wire. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[Fusion_FREAK 10+ year member]

i hear thats pretty flexible....//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

Super flexible. Better than Kicker's Hyperflex!

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

It's mostly cause of the brand name and the pretty colors they want you to buy. Car audio wire normally has a higher thread count to make it more flexible. Oxygen free wire is better than tinned copper, but I don't think you'll see tinned wire in welding wire. I've known guys to run both kinds of wires, some said they welding wire was better, some said it wasn't. I'd say if it's cheaper for you then get some. You should be able to find a larger gauge welding wire for less money than some of the car audio wire.

No. Tinned copper is the exact same as OFC except for the coating on the strands, which is used to resist corrosion.

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

heres what it is.

copper wire is copper wire, that is a moot point.

flexibility is determined by jacket type, wire size, and strand count.

tinned wire is, when used in environments where corrosion will happen, a better choice, but not a better conductor.

high strand count is good because when dealing with electricity, there is something called the 'skin' effect. this is based on the fact that more electrons pass down the surface of a conductor rather than down the center of the conductor. so tons and tons of strands in a clump will have way more surface area than a giant thick copper buss bar that is 10 feet long. also strand count makes the wire more flexible. but this is just a nice benefit for installing in tight spaces.

oxygen free is a bonus because like i said, copper corrodes way faster than nickel or tin or any alloy they 'tin' wires with (coat the wire). this tinning process prevents corrosion, and oxygen is what causes it. its called oxidization for a reason meow. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

so in short;

1. cars have lots of corrosion.

2. tinned wires prevent corrosion.

3. high strand count helps conduct electrons.

4. high strand count improves flexibility.

5. yay.

so there you have it. welding wire will be just as good as car audio power wire as far as performance goes. but you need to take precautions to prevent corrosion with that battery terminal goo stuff.

so who cares. long as it has a high strand count, and low guage, i would use it.

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

No. Tinned copper is the exact same as OFC except for the coating on the strands, which is used to resist corrosion.

well since there's a coating I guess it's not the "exact" same thing. I recall reading something about tinned copper being a lower percentage of copper due to the "tinning" process. Wish I knew where I read it so I could post it here.

 

[seedubs1 10+ year member]

^^^pic by ultimate157^^^

Welding 1/0 on the Left.....Hyperflex on the right.....Enough said.

 

[Redlineaudio 10+ year member]

I picked up some 4/0 for free so guess what I am using.

 

[DBDesignsElite]

^^^pic by ultimate157^^^

Welding 1/0 on the Left.....Hyperflex on the right.....Enough said.

Do me a favor take that hyperflex and cut that bad end away so that its a clean cut like that of the welding wire next to it.

Once again it all depends on the brand of welding wire used. The 1/0 wire i use is automotive cable but its pure un-tinned copper. The outside jacket is much thinner then what is pictured here. Still super flexable.

I get it for hella cheap. so thats allways a +