High temp wire questions. help please.

[jeflab]

Where can I find high temp wire? what gauge High temp & regular electrical wire should I use? Do I have to use the high temp wire if the wire will not be directly exposed to the inside of the oven? Thanks for any answers in advance.

[FigureLLC]

mcmaster. they list all the specs, so you can pick the most economical based on your application. they also sell it by the foot, which is nice, and have it to you the next day usually.

no, you don't need hi-temp wire where there aren't high temps. for example, our oven has 6 elements. i used 12ft of hi-temp. i connected a 1ft lead off each element terminal running through the wall to regular wire.

note that the physical size of the hi-temp will be smaller than the regular. e.g. don't use 10ga hi-temp and 10ga regular... it's a current mismatch. hi-temp can carry much more since it won't melt.

[jeflab]

Thanks. What gauge high temp should I use for 10 gauge reg wire?

[jeflab]

I found this 392 degree F Chemical resistant wire at mcmaster. Can't find anything rated for higher temp.

[powderguy]

You can also use a special wire sleeves that protects standard wires from the heat....

they are made from different material ....... aramid, glass (silica or glass yarn), ceramics and can withstand VERY high temps..... (some over 1200+ C)

[JordanG]

Does the connection side of the element even get hot? Im using regular wire right to the element, the wire is on the cold side of the inner shell so i would assume temps wouldnt be nearly hot enough to melt normal wire.