Circuit wiring (colour) conventions

[SurreyNick]

I observe that vintage receivers appear to follow some sort of convention in the choice of certain colour wires for differing parts of a circuit, however, I don't know if there was a standard convention common to all UK manufacturers, or whether each manufacturer had their own. I can't find reference to anything on the web, or in the numerous books I own (I could have just missed a reference though). Can anyone throw light on the matter? I'd like to adopt the correct procedure whenever possible, even for homebrews of vintage circuits.
Thanks.
Nick.

[pwdrive]

Vague memory of this being discussed before on this forum....may be.

This thread from the other forum sheds a bit of light:

http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showt...php?t=2090

Lawrence.

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Nick, some of the early Camm books Prac Wireless circuits, Encyclopedia, etc had an appendix at the back giving some listings of colour codes for sets of the 30's and 40's. I believe they were also listed in some of the trader sheets.

Ed

[Radio Fixer]

I was taught to wire heaters in twisted brown, HT +ve in red, -ve in black. Then G1 in green, G2 in orange, anode in yellow, cathode in grey. Other items we used our initiative

But few radios follow much of a colour scheme and it wont be like above although sometimes HT is. Philips were pretty awful and wired most of the radio in yellow, which apart from making tracing very difficult is also a colour which suffers badly from crumbling away as it was rubber.

Gary

[SurreyNick]

Thanks. I now know where to go looking
Better buy some more colours and call my next homebrew the 'Kaleidoscope Regalia'!
Nick

[Radio Fixer]

If you can get to one of the BVWS swap meets then buy some of the silicone covered wire, sold by Phil by the metre. It is wonderful stuff, in two thicknesses and is a joy to use. Very flexible, subdued colours, doesn't burn and is easy to strip.

If you want cotton covered stiff wire for early 20's radios then I have bought this from Antique Electronic Supply in the US. Can get small spools in many colours, often too vivid for my liking but the best I found.

Gary

[Nick]

Jan Wüsten of Ask Jan First has all this sort of stuff too - he's an excellent chap and sells a whole range of stuff relevant to this group - I've used him for years.

He has lots of cloth-covered wire as well as a great range of Litz and other exotics. See http://www.die-wuestens.de/kabel.htm#hf - I bought quite a lot of this some years ago - it's good stuff...

Speaks very good English - delivery is reasonable.

Oh, and before anyone moans about "supporting UK vendors" - I do quite a bit of that too

[AlanBeckett]

Phil is just down the Road from me so if anyone wants some Posting I could do it. I'm not sure that he does but it's best to ask first.

Alan

[SurreyNick]

Fabulous. Thanks guys
Nick