Gentlemen;

Is there a "rule of thumb” for wire gauge used in tube radios? I am restoring a Zenith H511 and wish to purchase some cotton/silk insulated wiring and cannot seem to find a reference on the wiring schematic to the actual gauge size. If I were to stock the most common sizes of wire for radios of the mid-fifties vintage, could anyone of you fine gentlemen offer your advice on the most popular gauges that would be needed?

Thank you!

Brian

AWG 20 and 22 should cover you. Use #22 for the low-voltage signal path and #20 for filament and B+ circuits. Other people will have other suggestions.

Wire size usually isn't shown on schematics. With experience, you can estimate the original wire size by inspection - or compare it to new replacement wire.

You can use cotton-covered wire (for appearance), but I would get the type that has a teflon insulation inside.

Agreed, I find solid wire easier to work with than stranded, provided it is not going to move under any circumstance.

:AWG 20 and 22 should cover you. Use #22 for the low-voltage signal path and #20 for filament and B+ circuits. Other people will have other suggestions.
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:Wire size usually isn't shown on schematics. With experience, you can estimate the original wire size by inspection - or compare it to new replacement wire.
:
:You can use cotton-covered wire (for appearance), but I would get the type that has a teflon insulation inside.
:

Good advice - I don't like stranded for hook-up wire. It has a mind of it's own - and tends to spring while being soldered, causing a cold joint. And when I strip it, I often clip a couple of strands. And yes, if the wire is going to need to move or flex, stranded is best - like wires running to speakers or other wiring above the chassis. Also for connecting loop antennas to the set.

I think most hook-up wire comes tinned, but that is what you want.

Not very often, but sometimes I have a use for #28 (or so) solid wire-wrap wire. It's useful for making wired connections to printed circuit boards or for tight spaces. (Not for wire-wrap connections, but for soldering.)

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I find solid wire easier to work with than stranded
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