UL 1164 PTFE Hook-Up Wire is a thin-wall, single-conductor Appliance Wiring Material (UL 758 AWM Style 1164) rated for 300 V AC and continuous service from -65°C to +150°C. Featuring an ASTM B298 silver-plated copper conductor (32 AWG to 10 AWG) insulated with a compact 0.013 in (0.33 mm) nominal wall of paste-extruded virgin polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), it delivers smaller bundle diameters than standard 15-mil fluoropolymer leads without sacrificing dielectric margin or solder-iron resistance.
1. Application Scope & UL PTFE Hook-Up Style Comparison
OEM equipment engineers select UL Style 1164 when internal wiring harnesses require a certified 300 V AC / 150°C rating alongside a slimmer outer diameter than 0.38 mm (15 mil) 200°C styles, complete immunity to aggressive cleaning solvents and lubricants, and zero insulation shrink-back during close-pitch hand or wave soldering:
- Industrial Heating & Commercial Cooking Equipment: Control-compartment lead wiring between ceramic terminal blocks, thermal cutouts, contactors, and PID temperature controllers inside laboratory ovens, environmental chambers, and commercial foodservice equipment.
- High-Density Electronic & Analytical Instruments: Point-to-point chassis wiring, power-supply backplanes, RF/microwave subassemblies, and sensor harnesses where low dielectric constant (
εr ≈ 2.1) minimizes parasitic capacitance. - Chemical, Semiconductor & Medical Enclosures: Internal equipment leads exposed to isopropyl alcohol, fluxes, hydraulic fluids, acid vapors, or cryogenic cooling zones down to
-65°C.
| UL AWM Style | Rated Voltage | Temp Rating | Nom. Insulation Wall | AWG Scope & Selection Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UL 1164 (This Page) | 300 V AC | 150°C | 0.013 in (0.33 mm) PTFE | 32-10 AWG; slimmest 300 V rated PTFE wall for compact 150°C harnesses |
| UL 1180 | 300 V AC | 200°C | 0.015 in (0.38 mm) PTFE | 30-10 AWG; standard 300 V / 200°C PTFE electronics hook-up wire |
| UL 1815 | 300 V AC | 250°C | 0.013 in (0.33 mm) PTFE | 30-10 AWG; nickel-plated copper for extreme 250°C thermal zones |
| UL 1198 | 600 V AC | 150°C | 0.020 in (0.51 mm) PTFE | 30-10 AWG; heavy-wall 600 V AC PTFE internal power/control wire |
| UL 1332 (FEP) | 300 V AC | 200°C | 0.013 in (0.33 mm) FEP | 30-10 AWG; melt-extruded FEP alternative for long continuous reels |
2. Wire Construction (Verified Against Cutaway)
Manufactured strictly to UL 758 Style 1164, our single-conductor hook-up wire pairs high-purity silver-plated copper with concentric paste-extruded virgin PTFE:
32 AWG to 10 AWG. Silver plating survives 380°C PTFE sintering without copper oxidation, ensures instant solder wetting, and lowers high-frequency skin-effect impedance.0.013 in (0.33 mm) and a UL minimum thickness at any point of 0.012 in (0.30 mm). Non-hygroscopic (< 0.01% moisture absorption), non-aging, and resistant to solder-iron contact without melt shrink-back.3. Technical Characteristics
Electrical, thermal, and flame-retardant parameters verified under UL 758 and UL 1581 test methods:
| Parameter | Specification / Test Condition |
|---|---|
| UL Style & Governing Standard | UL AWM Style 1164 per UL 758 (Appliance Wiring Material) |
| Rated Operating Voltage | 300 V AC RMS (internal wiring of appliances & electronic equipment) |
| Dielectric & Spark Test Voltage | 1,500 V AC / 1 min dielectric withstand; 3,000 V AC in-line spark test |
| Continuous Temperature Range | -65°C to +150°C |
| Insulation Wall Thickness | 0.013 in (0.33 mm) nominal average; 0.012 in (0.30 mm) minimum at any point |
| Dielectric Constant & Strength | εr ≈ 2.0-2.1 (1 kHz – 1 GHz); dielectric breakdown ≥ 20 kV/mm |
| Flame Retardancy | Passes UL VW-1 vertical wire flame test; self-extinguishing (LOI > 95%) |
| Minimum Bending Radius | 5 × OD static harness routing; 10 × OD flexing |
| Chemical & Environmental Compliance | Resistant to oils, fuels, acids, alkalis, Ketones & UV; RoHS & REACH compliant |
Current-Carrying Sizing Note: Ampacity in compact 150°C PTFE harnesses is governed by bundle count, enclosure airflow, and terminal temperature limits (often 75°C or 105°C at connectors). Cross-check conductor current loading against our AWG & Current-Rating Engineering Guide before finalizing gauge selection.
4. UL 1164 Dimensional & Conductor Schedule (32 AWG to 10 AWG)
Standard stranded silver-plated copper UL 1164 constructions with 0.013 in (0.33 mm) nominal PTFE insulation wall (solid conductors from 30 AWG to 18 AWG and custom strand counts available on request):
| Part Code | AWG Size | Stranding (No./AWG) | Conductor Dia. (mm) | Nom. Wall (in / mm) | Nominal OD (in / mm) | Max DC Resistance at 20°C (Ω/km) | Approx. Weight (kg/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UL1164-32-740 | 32 AWG | 7/40 | 0.24 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.035 / 0.90 | 564.0 | 1.6 |
UL1164-30-738 | 30 AWG | 7/38 | 0.30 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.038 / 0.96 | 330.0 | 2.0 |
UL1164-28-736 | 28 AWG | 7/36 | 0.38 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.041 / 1.04 | 209.0 | 2.6 |
UL1164-26-734 | 26 AWG | 7/34 | 0.48 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.045 / 1.14 | 130.0 | 3.5 |
UL1164-26-1938 | 26 AWG | 19/38 | 0.48 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.045 / 1.14 | 126.0 | 3.6 |
UL1164-24-732 | 24 AWG | 7/32 | 0.61 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.050 / 1.27 | 79.5 | 4.9 |
UL1164-24-1936 | 24 AWG | 19/36 | 0.61 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.050 / 1.27 | 79.5 | 5.0 |
UL1164-22-1934 | 22 AWG | 19/34 | 0.76 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.056 / 1.42 | 49.5 | 6.9 |
UL1164-20-1932 | 20 AWG | 19/32 | 0.96 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.064 / 1.62 | 30.2 | 10.1 |
UL1164-18-1930 | 18 AWG | 19/30 | 1.21 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.074 / 1.87 | 19.0 | 14.8 |
UL1164-16-1929 | 16 AWG | 19/29 | 1.44 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.083 / 2.10 | 14.5 | 19.8 |
UL1164-14-1927 | 14 AWG | 19/27 | 1.82 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.098 / 2.48 | 9.1 | 29.6 |
UL1164-12-1925 | 12 AWG | 19/25 | 2.29 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.116 / 2.95 | 5.8 | 44.5 |
UL1164-10-3726 | 10 AWG | 37/26 | 2.82 | 0.013 / 0.33 | 0.137 / 3.48 | 3.9 | 66.2 |
Explore more fluoropolymer and silicone appliance leads in our High-Temp & Specialty Cables catalog, including UL 1199 600 V 200°C PTFE Wire and Single-Core ETFE, FEP, PFA & Silicone High-Temp Wires.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
How does UL 1164 differ from UL 1180 and UL 1198 PTFE hook-up wires?
UL 1164 is rated 300 V AC and 150°C with a thinner 0.013 in (0.33 mm) nominal extruded PTFE wall across 32 to 10 AWG, yielding a smaller finished outer diameter for dense harnesses. UL 1180 increases the temperature rating to 200°C at 300 V AC with a slightly thicker 0.015 in (0.38 mm) wall, while UL 1198 steps up to 600 V AC at 150°C with a 0.020 in (0.51 mm) wall.
Why is silver-plated copper used in UL 1164 when the UL temperature rating is 150°C?
Paste-extruded PTFE insulation must be sintered in curing ovens near 380°C during manufacturing. Bare or tin-plated copper can oxidize or reflow at PTFE sintering temperatures unless specially processed, whereas silver-plated copper (ASTM B298) withstands PTFE sintering cleanly while providing low high-frequency skin resistance and rapid, non-shrinking hand or wave soldering.
Does UL 1164 PTFE insulation shrink back during close-quarters terminal soldering?
No. Unlike PVC, XLPE, or melt-extruded FEP insulation, sintered virgin PTFE has a crystalline transition point around 327°C and does not melt-flow under contact with a 350°C soldering iron, eliminating insulation shrink-back on crowded PCB headers, ceramic terminal blocks, and miniature connectors.
Can UL 1164 wire be used as exposed external power cordage?
No. UL AWM Style 1164 is approved strictly for the internal wiring of electrical appliances, instruments, and electronic enclosures where the 0.33 mm thin-wall insulation is protected against external mechanical crushing or sharp-edge cut-through.
Request a UL 1164 PTFE Wire Quotation & Spool Schedule
Specify your AWG size, solid or 7/19/37 stranding, EIA insulation color, spool length, and required UL marking for factory pricing and technical datasheet support.
