Speaker wire gauge

[Dave K]

What gauge of wire should I use for 4 tower speakers (Either pro60 or Kickers) from amp? Is 16 gauge ok? I am using a kicker 450x2

Thanks

[chpthril]

12Ga will support 1 or 2 pair of Pro60 or a set of the KM6500.2's or the "6-Pack", but if you are doing 2 pair of Pro60's of the "6-Pack" and running new wire, I would run a 14ga for each Pro60, or a 14ga for each mid/horn combo and each extra mid. In other words, four 14ga speaker wire pairs.

[Dave K]

There will definety be at least the four and maybe the six pack we talked about.

My concern is not having enough room in the front hinge point on my tower.Maybe i will just have to not worry about hiding all the wires and come through the side of the tower leg and then through fiberglass??

Here is another pic I borrowed to show

[chpthril]

No worries, 4 14ga speaker wire pairs will fit through that tower joint, but you may need to enlarge the hole in the deck.

[Dave K]

Would I take the 4 wires straight from the amp or could I splice them above that joint or would there be too much power through the single set of speakers wires for the 2 speakers on each channel below that splice??

[Jeff T]

Just and FYI, I fit 3 strands of 12 ga through the tiny hole in the tower hinge you pictured above. It was very, very tight, but three strands fit. I started with 12ga and there was zero chance they were going to fit through.

Good Luck.

[chpthril]

Would I take the 4 wires straight from the amp or could I splice them above that joint or would there be too much power through the single set of speakers wires for the 2 speakers on each channel below that splice??

IMO, run a complete run from amp to speakers. I would not splice because 1) every splice is a potential for a failure of some kink, either an entry point for moisture or lose connection. Now, using a heat-shrink butt connector with the sealer gel, is actually as good a the original piece of wire, which brings me to #2) splices tale up room, so splicing 4-8 individual wires right there would be TIGHT!.

[Jeff T]

It will require just as much effort to splice correctly as it would to just run a new full length right?

[chpthril]

It will require just as much effort to splice correctly as it would to just run a new full length right?

It's no harder to pull one long run as it would be to pull two. Reason being, I do it in 2 stages. I first pull the string and fish-tape completely through the tower, then I pull wire through half the tower to the joint, pulling all that I need, then I pull it through the 2nd half of the tower, then fold the tower back up. I do not try and pull the whole run through the tower in one pull, way too much friction, especially at that joint where the wires makes a u-turn.

No matter how good, or poor, as splice is, it will be bulkier then then the original wire, so it's hard to stuff/feed a splice back up or down the tower tube as you cant leave the slice right there at the joint because of the turn it makes. It may be hard to see in the pick, but there is only about a 7/16 hole for the wire. Although the tower tubes are hollow, the feet at that ends of each tube are not, they are solid except for a small pass-thru for wire. (disclaimer: this is in reference to the Tige "E" tower, but most are similar)

[Jeff T]

I pulled in 2 stages too. Top half then Bottom Half. Once i had the proper tool, it took 2 sets of hands about 1 hour to pull three strands. I was just saying that it seemed like you could just pull new strands in close to the same amount of time it would take you to cleanly splice...then you don't have to worry about a failed splice later. Just seemed like a logical argument to me??

[Dave K]

No worries, 4 14ga speaker wire pairs will fit through that tower joint, but you may need to enlarge the hole in the deck.

Is this 4 pair of speakers wire (which is 8)
or
2 pair?

I am leaning towards the Kicker 6 pack set up or 4 Pro 60's.

Won't I need 4 pairs for either set up?

Thank you.

[chpthril]

Is this 4 pair of speakers wire (which is 8)
or
2 pair?

I am leaning towards the Kicker 6 pack set up or 4 Pro 60's.

Won't I need 4 pairs for either set up?

Thank you.

For 2 pair or Pro60's: I would run a 14ga speaker wire pair for each speaker. This job would require apx 100ft of 14ga

For the 6-Pack: I would run a 12ga speaker wire pair from the amp to each horn, then 14ga to jump each mid to the horn. This job will require apx 50ft of 12ga and a few ft of 14ga.

[Dave K]

For 2 pair or Pro60's: I would run a 14ga speaker wire pair for each speaker. This job would require apx 100ft of 14ga

For the 6-Pack: I would run a 12ga speaker wire pair from the amp to each horn, then 14ga to jump each mid to the horn. This job will require apx 50ft of 12ga and a few ft of 14ga.

4 pairs of wire then. correct?

[chpthril]

For 2 pair or Pro60's: I would run a 14ga speaker wire pair for each speaker. This job would require apx 100ft of 14ga

.

4 pairs of wire then. correct?

For 2 pair of Pro60's. That's one (1) spreaker wire pair for each Pro60 speaker.