UL1007 PVC Hook Up Wire Variations

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The name of this hook up wire is derived from the tests and approvals used by Underwriter’s Laboratories and has become the industry standard name. UL uses the identification code “1007” to list all of the tests conducted in order to prove that the insulation over the copper strands does indeed meet the requirements. For example, UL1007 is supposed to meet 300 volts and 105°C, so UL will conduct those tests and stamp that number on the wire insulation for all to see.

UL1007 Stranded Wire

The term stranded identifies multiple copper strands used to manufacture the wire. For example, 18 AWG wire is “18” because of the diameter, which is different from 16 AWG and 14 AWG because they are all different thicknesses. Well, it was discovered that the diameter is the key factor of conductivity, or in other words, 18 AWG wire can be comprised on a single solid strand or multiple smaller strands. The advantage of the smaller strands is the added flexibility. Some call it an advantage to have solid wire because they might be installing it, or snaking it, through tight areas where the solid wire becomes helpful.

UL1007 Solid Wire

We have a customer that make Tiki Masks with our UL1007 solid wire. As you can see in the pictures below, the hair is made with different color wires that we cut and stripped for them. We also have many customers that use solid copper without insulation involved in art projects such as jewelry, bird feeders and stained glass. Whenever the wire is being formed into position, needs to hold its position or needs to be pushed through out-of-reach areas, solid wire is preferred over stranded.

UL1007 Wire Gauges (AWGs)

The most common size gauges for UL1007 are 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28. The largest size is 16 AWG (American Wire Gauge) and the smallest is 28 AWG. Each of these sizes are more popular in stranded but also come in solid upon request. Here is how the copper strands are wound together to meet the necessary diameter:

• UL1007-16 uses 26 strands of 30 AWG
• UL1007-18 uses 16 strands of 30 AWG
• UL1007-20 uses 10 strands of 30 AWG
• UL1007-22 uses 7 strands of 30 AWG
• UL1007-24 uses 7 strands of 32 AWG
• UL1007-26 uses 7 strands of 34 AWG
• UL1007-28 uses 7 strands of 36 AWG

The first 4 gauges are listed as 30 AWG strands but the amount of strands for each are different. As more strands are wound together the electrical current increases. Multiple strands act as a larger solid strand. These sizes can also get more flexible upon request. For example, UL1007-18 uses 16 strands of 30 AWG, but if 32 AWG is used instead, then 41 strands are needed to get to the 18 AWG diameter. This will create a much more flexible wire for those that need it.

UL1007 Voltages and Temperatures

Unfortunately, UL1007 only comes in 300 volts and 105°C due to the name itself, UL1007. As mentioned in the first paragraph, UL1007 is a specific set of tests performed by Underwriter’s Laboratories to approve wire. Whenever people in the field see that something is approved for UL1007 they understand the approval process without having to research any further. In fact, many requirements sent from customers specify a UL style number and try to deviate away from it with added characteristics or attributes, such as asking for a UL1007 wire with a higher temperature. In this case it would be a different UL style completely. Higher temperatures and voltages are available, but they would just be listed under a different UL style.

UL1007 Wire Color Options

There are 10 specific color options almost always available somewhere online (Black, Brown, Blue, Gray, Green, Orange, Red, Violet, White, Yellow), along with 2 fairly standard colors (Pink and Tan) and the option of spiral striping. You can add a spiral stripe along the entire wire, usually for an additional charge of some sort, which will be made-to-order because of the multitude of options available. Some wire harness assemblies need 50 wires with different colors and spiral striping becomes very popular for those types of jobs. Green with a Yellow stripe is a common color for grounding wires that need insulation.

UL1007 Dual Approval Ratings

You might see that UL1007 wire is also approved for UL1569 or also MTW or CSA approved. UL1569 is a very close approval and most wire manufacturers decided to make one wire with both approvals instead of stocking 10 colors of each variation. MTW is an acronym that stands for Machine Tool Wire and is mostly a descriptive phrase about how to use it. MTW is listed on many PVC wires with various temperatures and voltages, and you might also see Appliance Wire written in the UL descriptions, which, again, is simply a descriptive phrase. CSA is the Canadian Standard Association that tests and approves wire similar to UL, but mostly in Canada. However, both UL and CSA are used throughout the US and Canada regularly, especially when shipping from the US to Canada or vice versa