Wire supplies for vehicle wiring

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RFguy
Posts: 1357
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:17 am

Wire supplies for vehicle wiring

Post by RFguy »

We have used Waytek for a few years.
Things seem to be going down hill there these days. We would order 250 foot rolls of 14 and 18 guage wire. They always came on metal spools. Our latest order arrived today. All on plastic spools with several are broken in shipping.
I hate plastic spools. You drop the spool. It cracks in half. Wire spews everywhere. I hate plastic spools.

Anyone recomend another supplier? We typically buy everything in 250 to 500 foot spools. 10, 14, 18 guage. All colours. METAL SPOOLS.
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Jim202
Posts: 3610
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 4:00 pm

Re: Wire supplies for vehicle wiring

Post by Jim202 »

Have you tried your local electrical supply house? Some of the spools are metal and some are plastic. Places like Grainger and the likes are a good start.

jim


RFguy wrote:We have used Waytek for a few years.
Things seem to be going down hill there these days. We would order 250 foot rolls of 14 and 18 guage wire. They always came on metal spools. Our latest order arrived today. All on plastic spools with several are broken in shipping.
I hate plastic spools. You drop the spool. It cracks in half. Wire spews everywhere. I hate plastic spools.

Anyone recomend another supplier? We typically buy everything in 250 to 500 foot spools. 10, 14, 18 guage. All colours. METAL SPOOLS.
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kb0nly
AKA: The Computer Doctor
Posts: 3370
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2003 1:15 am

Post by kb0nly »

Get used to it... Everyone is discontinuing the metal spools, the plastic spools are cheaper and faster to produce, bottom dollar time again!

Get yourself a stand to put the wire spools on then you don't have to worry about dropping them and it makes it easier to unspool the wire as you work.

I haven't found anyone yet as reliable as Waytek when it comes to wire.
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RFguy
Posts: 1357
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:17 am

Post by RFguy »

Field installs are the worst. We keep about a dozen rolls in the van. Dropping a roll is a given.
I have been really happy with Waytek, but metal spools was a big part of it.


Motorola service in Mexico.
Must buy your Motorola parts on credit card.
And now plastic spools. What will be next? Service manuals no longer avialable for new model radios? (Oh, yea, they are already doing that).
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KitN1MCC
Posts: 1890
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2002 4:00 pm
What radios do you own?: ht1550 XLS,6 MT-1000,

Post by KitN1MCC »

yeah plasic ones do suck. But it the qualiy of the wire not that spoll thats important

most electrical suppyl houses dont carry true automotive cable that is SAE spec and that has a higth strand count and is flexible

i liek the stuff from superior from tessco


also napa has a nice selection and u can order rolls
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Birken Vogt
Posts: 262
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 7:53 pm

Post by Birken Vogt »

I agree NAPA is good in a pinch, they have a good selection on the shelf but I like Waytek because they sell good automotive thinwall crosslink insulation wire which is superior because of its smaller size and better insulation quality than the GPT. I have been getting about 50/50 metal and plastic spools lately, maybe they used up the last of their metal though. I agree I drop and break them too. Maybe call them and demand metal again?

Birken
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