A planar wire chamber has been developed at LAMPF as a prototype for wire chambers of cylindrical configuration for electron detection in the MEGA experiment. Results form tests with the planar chamber have been used to set the geometrical parameters and predict the performance characteristics of the cylindrical chambers. The behavior of the planar chamber with CF4-isobutane gas demonstrates that 15 μm wire of 1 mm pitch is practical, that lifetimes greater than 0.045 C/cm are achievable and that gate widths of 25 ns are possible. © 1991.