Wiring a workhorse ballast

[Zoe]

So, I have a workhorse 3 ballast with a short length of 18awg (gauge) solid wire (in red, yellow, white, black... the standard).  It looks like aluminum to me; I don't think it's soldered copper, is it? 

Anyway, I went to Rona and HD to look for more for it. Rona told me it was "impossible" to find (my ballast must have come from a parallel universe ), HD said they didn't have it but that 12 gauge copper wire (not solid) would be fine to use.

For those of you who have wired your own ballasts... where did you get your wire? Is it indeed aluminum?

Thanks,

Zoe

[Vincenzo.]

get the coated wire. any will do.

[Zoe]

Thanks for the input. Even if it's a different gauge or material?

[Vincenzo.]

Thanks for the input. Even if it's a different gauge or material?

to get it perfect, bring the workhorse with you and match the size you are buying to your WH3. they even have wire gauge there to figure out the correct size you need.

[Zoe]

Hi Vince,

It's 18 gauge (says so on the wire housing), but neither HD nor Rona carry a solid wire in an 18g.

[jeffd]

try Reset electronics near pinecrest mall if you want the 18ga solid to match-up.

[beertech]

Matching the gauge is important, but it doesn't matter if it's solid or strand.

[Zoe]

try Reset electronics near pinecrest mall if you want the 18ga solid to match-up.

Geez, they're open 9-5, closed on weekends. How'm I supposed to go? 

[Snider82]

thermostat wire is 18 gauge - u can get 2, 3, 4, 5, 8.....wire rolls of it.   its solid copper. 

[audioslave_36]

stranded wire is a better conductor and it stays more flexible than solid core wire.

[jimskoi]

Princess auto has 18 wire.get the Canadian made.Not the China made.Its not hard enough.