Heat-resistant wire?

[SpongeBuell]

Hi all,

I have a rather odd project involving a homemade smoker. So far, everything has gone rather dandily, except for when I tried it today... you see, Spongey was hoping that the old "heat rises" law of thermodynamics would apply more than it really did, since the heat was insulated and quite high, causing his standard household wire to get quite hot, melt, short, and even cause a small electrical fire during testing (this was before I saw the short, otherwise I wouldn't have plugged it back in). An autopsy was performed, and it was quite obvious that it was the wire that was bad, everything else looks like it should be ok.

The problem is, I would expect the temperatures on this to go up to at least 250 degrees farenheit, and would like wire that can take up to 350 degrees, just to be safe. I haven't been to the electrical section of the Home Depot lately, and probably won't have the chance to for a while... is heat resistant wiring to that level very easy to find there? Otherwise, can anyone recommend a place that would have it at a reasonable price? I don't need too much, only a couple yards, and only need 2 conductors inside.

If I can get this going, I will think of whoever helps me each time I have the tasty foods I shall be eating from there.

Thanks much,
SpongeBuell

[gannon]

I haven't looked much in stores, but I have pulled heat resistant wiring from things like microwaves and toaster ovens before.

[timmeh87]

Yeah, usually has like woven fiberglass insulation or something.