What is silicon wire? Most wire has a plastic outer coating(insulation), and either stranded or solid copper wire inside it.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
This stuff is like silver-y and very light and pliable. I've got a lot of it now, both in black and red insulations. He was using it for an electronics project, and moved and just gave me the stuff. I should have asked some questions then i guess, but didn't.
One thing I know, they certainly don't sell it at Home Depot, or at Radio Shack. I went there to look and see if i could find something out, but of course the dopes there didn't have any dope on the subject.
I'm just wondering. Hoping there can be some use for this on my layout, perhaps as track bus wire? Don't want to waste me time if it isn't as good as copper, or can't or shouldn't be used in conjunction witn copper. Online searches oddly don't turn up much info either. ????
I'm wondering if this is the stuff they use for fiber-optic?
I don't pretend to be an expert on this topic, but see:
http://www.americanelements.com/simw.html
From what I read there it appears that silicon wire is a high quality wire used in commercial applications. I think that as long as you are using the proper wire gages, you should not have any problem. After all, model railroaders have been using everything from left over bell wire to left over lamp cords for years.
You should not have to guess as to the wire gage....most wire comes with that information printed on the insulation.
It's silicone insulated wire. The wire itself is usually a tinned, or plated copper. It's insulation is very flexible, and very heat resistant.
It's commonly used for R/C car battery and motor leads, and slot car controller and motor leads, where the wire needs to be pliable, and have high current draw.
Rotor
Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...
Rotor is correct because Silicon is a rubber (orig. developed by Dow Corning) and NOT conductive at all.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Aha! Thanks guys, once again the forums come to the rescue. Looks like it should be great wire - light, strong and i guess from the comments high capacity, and obviously it will go with copper wire since it is indeed copper-based wire - it's silicon insulated...! D'Oh!
It is indeed 16 AWG.
Guess my neighbor left me with a nice gift!
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Oh, yeah? He said silicon, not silicone! Did you look at the link I referenced? That reference describes the wire appearance as silvery (which is what was described), not copper colored. And, silicon is a conductor.
See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon
Says "not to be confused with silicone"
maxman wrote: Rotor is correct because Silicon is a rubber (orig. developed by Dow Corning) and NOT conductive at all.Tom__________________________________________________________________________Oh, yeah? He said silicon, not silicone! Did you look at the link I referenced? That reference describes the wire appearance as silvery (which is what was described), not copper colored. And, silicon is a conductor.See also:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SiliconSays "not to be confused with silicone"
http://www.google.com/search?q=silicon+wire&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBS
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft%3A*%3AIE-Address&rlz=1I7ADBS&q=silicone+wire&btnG=Search
Seems to be used interchangeably (although incorrectly) with regards to wire. It is NOT refering to the conductor, but the insulation.
Au contraire.
Again, see:
It very clearly states that it is high purity Si wire, not Cu wire. I agree that the references to silicone wire would refer to the insulation. However, the original post referred to silicon, not silicone. The poster then went on to say that the wire looked different (silver colored) as opposed to being copper colored, and he was wondering if he had something different.
Whether or not the silicon is combined with copper is something I don't know. And it is possible that the wire he has actually does have silicone insulation. But based on the presented information (ie: was used for something special; was silicon wire; had silver color as opposed to copper color; and that there appears to actually be a silicon wire product), I say he has a wire that is better quality than the run of the mill product. And that the silicon refers to the wire, not the insulation.
Of course, if the poster is copper/silver color blind, or spelled silicon when he wanted to spell silicon, then that's a different story.
I shall now go get a decaf soda.
In checking your link and a few random Googles, the one thing I didn't find was a table indicating conductivity. Rather, it seems, the silicon is intended to be used for detection, plating (semiconductor assembly) and other purposes, not run-of-the-layout wiring.
I would strongly recommend some careful experimentation, using a VOM, a few short lengths for experimental soldering and so forth.
I would also cut the wire and examine the cross-section with a magnifier. My collection of useful junk includes quite a bit of silvery wire - pre-tinned copper, which is obviously copper when it's cut. If your wire is silvery all the way through, I would approach it with caution until you can determine if it is, in fact, a suitable sub for ordinary copper wire.
Just my . Other opinions may differ - and what experimentation will yield is facts.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
maxman wrote:Rotor is correct because Silicon is a rubber (orig. developed by Dow Corning) and NOT conductive at all.Tom__________________________________________________________________________Oh, yeah? He said silicon, not silicone! Did you look at the link I referenced? That reference describes the wire appearance as silvery (which is what was described), not copper colored. And, silicon is a conductor.See also:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SiliconSays "not to be confused with silicone"
I stand corrected. Thanks, maxman. I looked at the word and immediately thought "silicone" rather than silicon. There is a place on the west coast called "Silicon" Valley, isn't there...
What Google finds seems to be dependent on what you type in as your search phrase and from which link you choose. Here's what I found about Silicon Wire:
http://images.google.com/images?q=silicon%20wire&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBS&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi
http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft%3A*%3AIE-Address&rlz=1I7ADBS&q=silicone+wire
Look like the same stuff, no matter how you spell it.
There is a place on the west coast called "Silicon" Valley, isn't there..." border="0" width="15" height="25" />
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Yes, there is. I think that there is also a place "over there" called Silicone Valley. However that silicone is used in an application other than wire.
tomikawaTT wrote:I would strongly recommend some careful experimentation, using a VOM, a few short lengths for experimental soldering and so forth.
Silicon is a semi-conductor whose properties are controlled by the amount of "doping" with specific impurities. Copper is a conductor.
A few quick tests should solve all of the above weighty questions.
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
Shawnee
Spark plug wires are silicon also but they will not power my layout. They would not take the sustained current. It silver colored but will it take solder? Take an old train set power pack and use some of the wire and short across the terminals and see if it trips the breaker or just glows. If it trips the breaker imediatly than it should be ok if it glows dont use it. If it takes a few seconds to trip then dont use it.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
locoi1sa wrote: Shawnee Spark plug wires are silicon also but they will not power my layout. They would not take the sustained current. It silver colored but will it take solder? Take an old train set power pack and use some of the wire and short across the terminals and see if it trips the breaker or just glows. If it trips the breaker imediatly than it should be ok if it glows dont use it. If it takes a few seconds to trip then dont use it. Pete
No, your spark plug wires are not silicon, they are silicone jacketed.
The "wire" itself usually have carbon conductors that are used in original equipment ignition wires by most vehicle manufacturers, and in the majority of stock replacement wires. Conductor usually consists of a substrate of fiberglass and/or Kevlar over which high-resistance conductive latex or silicone is coated, and functions by reducing spark current (by resistance) to provide suppression.
There are metal core ignition wires out there, but not recommended for normal street cars.
http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm
Thanks Rotor
Thats probably why I switched to engines without sparky things about thirty years ago. Being a heavy truck and mining equipment mech I tend to ignore the small four strokers with wires. Ive probably seen the inside of more big engines than most people have seen the outside. Its a sad day when you realize you just inframed another 3406 cat without opening the book to find tourque settings or valve lash steps. That day was about fifteen years ago.
Checking back in on the thread, seems to be a bit confusing as to what I have in my hands. Indeed it is a silver-y wire, solid not strand, very light for 16AWG, says "600V" and thus it is obviously intended for conducting electrical current, eh?
My neighbor defintely said it was silicon, not silicone...there emphasis was on the "n", though of course I didn't get that in writing or anything. He was into remote controlled boats and aircraft - relatively large ones too I heard but I didn't actually see any of them. This wire was just stuff he had left in his garage workshop when he was leaving and offered a bunnc of stuff up for grabs. I also got some nice tools...don't know why he was leaving 'em. Maybe the sherriff was on his tail...or yeah, he got called back to Remulac. He was indeed an odd fellow.
I'll try a test solder later and play around with it with a current tester and post any results I found. I hoping it's of use and as good as copper.
shawnee wrote: Checking back in on the thread, seems to be a bit confusing as to what I have in my hands. Indeed it is a silver-y wire, solid not strand, very light for 16AWG, says "600V" and thus it is obviously intended for conducting electrical current, eh? My neighbor defintely said it was silicon, not silicone...there emphasis was on the "n", though of course I didn't get that in writing or anything. He was into remote controlled boats and aircraft - relatively large ones too I heard but I didn't actually see any of them. This wire was just stuff he had left in his garage workshop when he was leaving and offered a bunnc of stuff up for grabs. I also got some nice tools...don't know why he was leaving 'em. Maybe the sherriff was on his tail...or yeah, he got called back to Remulac. He was indeed an odd fellow.I'll try a test solder later and play around with it with a current tester and post any results I found. I hoping it's of use and as good as copper.
Is the insulation real soft? Can you put it over the flame from a lighter without the insulation melting? If so, then it's probably silicone insulation.
The answer is yes on both counts, just tried it. I think this is tinned copper wire in silicone insulation. I also just looked at some r/c hobby sites and I think that's what this is.
Even if the conductor is silicon, most any metal wire would be a better conductor of electricity. Copper is the 2nd best conductor. Silver is the best, but it's cost is prohibitive to use, and doesn't offer a significant benefit over copper. Gold is the 3rd best conductor, but it has the advantage that it doesn't tarnish.
Silicon is indeed a semiconductor. That means it's somewhere between an insulator and a conductor. Doping indeed makes it more or less conductive, but certainly not as conductive as metal.
So yeah, I agree that your wire must be silicone insulated. If it is silicon wire, it will have a much higher resistance than copper.
shawnee wrote: The answer is yes on both counts, just tried it. I think this is tinned copper wire in silicone insulation. I also just looked at some r/c hobby sites and I think that's what this is.
I think you nailed what it is.
It should solder just fine, and carry more amps then you'll ever use on a model railroad.
Some of the better grade R/C SILICONE COATED wires are silver plated, but most are raw copper or tinned.
If you look close, it's probably not solid, but formed from many tiny little strands of wire, much finer than "normal" stranded wire. That's for flexibility, without breakage. Cut a piece with dykes or cutters, and the cut portion of the conductor will probably look like copper, but the outside of the conductor will be silver colored.
FWIW... 16 ga Silicone wire on a slot car can survive flash draw of over 70 amps. Some drag slot cars may draw over 100 amps!
Just my observations.
DanLW wrote: Even if the conductor is silicon, most any metal wire would be a better conductor of electricity. Copper is the 2nd best conductor. Silver is the best, but it's cost is prohibitive to use, and doesn't offer a significant benefit over copper. Gold is the 3rd best conductor, but it has the advantage that it doesn't tarnish.Silicon is indeed a semiconductor. That means it's somewhere between an insulator and a conductor. Doping indeed makes it more or less conductive, but certainly not as conductive as metal.So yeah, I agree that your wire must be silicone insulated. If it is silicon wire, it will have a much higher resistance than copper.
I think that pretty much sums it up, rather eloquently.
Rotor, you're right...it's not solid but micro-stranded...actually had to put a light magnifying glass up to it to really see that (hey, my eyes aren't what they used to be). I think this stuff will be super, light and easy to use and solder (pre-tinned!) and more than capable in terms on conductivity. It's probably a step up from the copper wire at Home Despot. The R/C hobbyists seem to depend on this stuff from what I read on those sites, and as you said they have significant electrical conductivity needs.
This has all been a useful exploration, and thank you all for the input. This " silicon wire" is going to be my new bus wire!