Tube amp heater wire gauge?

[psychepool]

I would like to ask what gauge is appropriate for the wire used in the tube amp heater.

As a result of searching, it seems that there is no clear conclusion that a specific specification is good or bad.

As the gauge gets thinner, the resistance increases and heat is generated, and it seems that the important thing is whether the insulator can withstand the heat.

For that reason, someone says that Teflon wire can use a thinner gauge.

I used to mainly use 18AWG stranded wire, but I recently made several amps that used 22AWG Teflon wire.
They were amps equipped with 2 x 6L6GC, 4 x 12ax7.
I have been using 18AWG stranded or 22AWG Teflon for several years without any particular problems.

This time, I am going to try using 24AWG Teflon wire. Will it be okay? Local DIY shops say they build tube amps with this spec wire and that there are no particular problems, but I'm a little worried.
I wonder what you think.
The amp I'm building this time is going to use 2 x 6L6GC (or EL34), 5 x 12ax7.

[Bergheim]

According to engineeringtoolbox.com, max current for 24awg copper wire is 3.5 amps. I'm using zip wire from wall warts (ranging from 20 to 24 awg) for heater wiring myself. No extra hum compared to twisted wires, and very easy and tidy to lay out between sockets.
I do however usually split the heater wiring into two branches at the connection between the pt wires and the zip wires, one for the power tubes and one for the preamp tubes. This way each branch doesn't pass more then about two amps.

[LOUDthud]

Check the AC Heater Voltage at the Tube sockets. Matched tubes aren't matched unless they have the same Heater Voltage.

[xtian]

Check the AC Heater Voltage at the Tube sockets. Matched tubes aren't matched unless they have the same Heater Voltage.

I don't understand you. The heater winding to our tube sockets are usually wired in parallel, so AC voltage will be the nearly thesame at each, right (less tiny losses for the resistance of the wire)?

[xtian]

I have taken to matching the gauge of the heater winding for the run to the power tubes, and then lighter weight wire, if desired, for the preamp tubes, since they draw much less current.

[psychepool]

Thanks for your helpful answers.
The store I usually buy my parts from no longer sells the gauge wires I feel comfortable with, so I was wondering if I should look elsewhere for a suitable wire or try the 24AWG teflon wire they recommend.

I have taken to matching the gauge of the heater winding for the run to the power tubes, and then lighter weight wire, if desired, for the preamp tubes, since they draw much less current.

If it is okay to use separate wires according to the current consumption in this way, I think I can use the wire from the power transformer in the power tube and the 24AWG teflon wire in the preamp. Thanks for the advice.

[Guy77]

Thanks for your helpful answers.
The store I usually buy my parts from no longer sells the gauge wires I feel comfortable with, so I was wondering if I should look elsewhere for a suitable wire or try the 24AWG teflon wire they recommend.

I have taken to matching the gauge of the heater winding for the run to the power tubes, and then lighter weight wire, if desired, for the preamp tubes, since they draw much less current.

If it is okay to use separate wires according to the current consumption in this way, I think I can use the wire from the power transformer in the power tube and the 24AWG teflon wire in the preamp. Thanks for the advice.

I have been using 20 AWG for all heater tubes, power and preamp, and has worked great for the last 10yrs.
No complaints so far. I use this tin stranded wire here:

https://www.mojotone.com/20-Ga-Pre-Tinn ... oated-Wire

I have noticed some Two Rock use this type of wire as well.

Cheers
Guy