Where to get this type of wire?

Hey everyone, I have been looking for this type of wire everywhere I think the biggest problem is I don't know what to call it. Two independent wires within a single wire. Please ignore the wire ends its a piece of scrap LED. I found some speaker wire at Bestbuy that is sort of like this but it's got a soft ouster covering this outer insulating layer is solid all the way to the main bundle of wire.


If what I'm doing matters for your opinion this is for wiring up some LED's to the dome light for footwell and rear using the dome door/on/off signal for a relay switch.


One more question is there some sort of special heat shrink that I need to make a nice looking connection like this? I've seen the flat heat shrink and the rounded heat shrink, does it matter which one I use?????


Thanks for the help!!!!

 

Looks sorta like 18/2 thermostat wire

 

Have you tried Home Depot or Lowes? If bigbarlo is right about the 18 gauge then it would be called a 18/2 fully insulated wire.

 

A very common two lead wire would suffice, even speaker wire as long as it supports the amp loads of the LED strip. I installed a bunch of that as under cabinet lighting in our kitchen and in my shop and used some 16/2 speaker wire I got from MonoPrice.

With heat applied, the heat shrink tube will conform to the shape of the work you are insulating. So wither tube or flattened tube type will work. Just choose the closest size of heatshrink that will slip over the work as they have a set degree of shrinkage.

 

I looked at RadioShack, Home Depot, Lowes, AutoZone, Advanced Autocrats HAHA.....maybe I was just looking in the wrong section so 18/2 fully insulated wire is what its called. I found some speaker wire on Ebay
http://www.cablematters.com/pc-463-...-cm-16-awg-speaker-cable-100-bare-copper.aspx that should do the trick but I just wanted the wire to be more insulated and look more like the picture. I'm not sure that it's really going to matter in the long run it's solely for aesthetic purposes and my own OCD.

At HomeDepot/Lowes would I look in the air-conditioning section or would it be in the Electrical section by the wire. Thats where I looked yesterday was in the Electrical section.

 

Yeah I'm not terribly concerned with the load, it would have to take the load from the Dome light switch so 12V up to 7.5A I believe is what the breaker is rated to within that system. The wires they use up there are already so darn thin.....I'll only be using it to power a 12V 5Amp relay.

 

18/2 or 16/2 stranded most likely.
Usually it is in the rolls that you have an employee cut for you, by the foot, at HD/Lowes.

 

Thank you I will try to head down there today if they are open and go take another look. I appreciate your help!!!

 

They have these at Home Depot. It's in a bulk spool. A Home Depot associate will cut it for you or it's self serve, I can't remember.

 

Try looking up "18/2 SJT or SVT Portable cable"

I see this type of wire all the time, mainly for hanging light fixtures but it usually has 3 wires as you need a ground for 120v.

The term to search for is definitely "Portable Cable" and not "thermostat wire" or "lamp wire".

It is a Thermoplastic or PVC coated cable, and you can get it all different insulation ratings depending on the application.

 

Here is a good website explaining the different ratings and letter designations for "portable cables".

https://awcwire.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/allied-encyclopedia-type-sjt-cord-vs-svt-cable/

 

This is a 12vDC application right? Why would he need a third conductor? I wouldn't over think this...its really a simple need and as long as you are paying attention to the load the rest is looks, cost, and best fit for the application. A flat wire may conceal a little better for you.

 

Yes this is a 12VDC with no higher than 5amps.

I will be putting LED sticky strips under the passenger and Drivers front wheel well and then LED strips under each seat so the back can be illuminated as well. I'll be using the Dome switch to power a relay so they will illuminate with the door and when I turn the dome to on. I only need two wires I don't need a third 'neutral' wire.

 

He doesn't need a third conductor, all I'm saying is the OP might have a hard time sourcing a 2 conductor cable as this type of wire is most commonly used for 120v applications where a 3rd ground wire is usually needed.

Also, while other wires would work just fine he wants this specific wire because of the look and it's thick plastic insulation.

 

Therein lies the challenge - a cheap molded cable like that is uncommon and will be harder to find. Probably only used because the LED strip mfr got a deal on a bulk of it. I would be more inclined to make the installation appear and conform to the materials used in the vehicle. This may be a stretch but I doubt you will find that type of cabling anywhere in a Tacoma. Of course this is the OP's project so he can design and implement as he sees fit.

And I agree with dcsbtaco

Also check www.monoprice.com for good quality cabling, TV wall mounts, in wall speakers and more for very good pricing. I think they sell on ebay as "monoprice"

 

I'm glad to hear you used connectors Mike!!! I was planning on doing the same thing was going to go with Banana connectors incase the LED strip decided to die or I had a problem and needed to replace it I didn't want to have to rewire. I'll be putting the wires up thru the A pillars and up into the headliner to get it across instead of going underneath the carpet. I'll come up from under the seats and the little kick plate to get the wires to the back.

I'll be using both the single strand double conductor wires but then will also connect using single strand as well with the banana connectors unless you tell me to use something different as a quick connector.

 

Thank you. Yes it is solely for looks and aesthetics.....I like the way the cable feels it is solely an OCD/looks thing nothing more. If I was smart I'd just go get a cheap spool of wire and go that route but I'd really like to be able to run a single wire and there's just something about the looks of flat speaker wire......I don't know it just irritates me HAHA......

 

Mike I don't entirely follow what you just did there HAHA.....can you explain just a little more......????

The connector you say its a the style wire crimp n plug do you have a closer photo of the connector???

 

I'd have to agree with that. Regardless of the cable you end up using I would run it in some "split loom" wherever it is exposed to make it look more factory.

 

The biggest thing I wonder about is what size Heat shrink to get for all these things, do you use a bigger size then reheat shrink using a smaller size over the already shrunk but still loose end so it creates a "tighter seal???