Calling Stereo Gurus...Need Advice.

[Jeff T]

Okay, here is my situation. I'll spare you the long details...

The short of it is...I had a guy that I going to purchase my speaker wire from locally at a discounted price (I'm a long term customer with them). Anyway, they supposedly had plenty. I go today to pick it up and they have none. I was going to use 14 gauge car wire for the tower speakers.

The guy at the audio shop advised me that I should use 16 gauge, 4 conductor home wire and double up the inputs. He told me that this would be the same as 14 gauge and it would have a thicker sheath for protection. He will sell it to me at $.40/ft, which is the same price that I was going to pay for the 14 gauge car wire.

I know nothing about this, but at this point I don't want to just take his word for it to save a few $.

Any thoughts, conerns, etc.??

[lee]

Would the home wire not be too stiff and bulk?

[Jeff T]

Just got off the phone with another guy that installs in boats. He laughed and said..."good luck". Told me that pulling two runs of 16.4 would be very difficult and would require quite large exit holes.

[THE g]

That wire will work fine as long as it is stranded speaker wire that is what I am going to use but in 4 conductor 14 guage but 16 is good enough I just have a pile of 14.

[chpthril]

Ditto on stiffness, you want plenty of flex so the wires don't break over time bouncing around on the water.

If they have 12ga, go with it. You should have plenty of room in the tower to run it, not that much thicker than 14ga.

[philwsailz]

The 4 conductor stuff will be a thicker pull for sure; be aware of that and double check against any holes already drilled, or planned. That being said, it should really not be any problem to pull.

As far as stiffness goes, a lot of the architectural stuff is extremely flexible these days; I believe you want as flexible as you can find. Flexibility has a lot to do with the insulation, but a lot too with strand count. High strand count is desirable.

If 4 conductor was the only thing I could get my hands on, it passed the flexibility test, and would fit through the proposed holes, I would not be afraid to use it.

The amount of copper in 16-4 should be suitable for your needs, I think; what are the speakers you intend to wire up?

[Razzman]

Seems like overkill to me. I pulled double 16ga sets plus all the wire for my lights without incident. Twice to be exact as i forgot one the first time! It seems to me that rigid/stiff wire would have more of an opportunity to wear through if it's against the inside tower walls and vibration occurs, it won't flex. Just MY

[Jeff T]

the wetsounds pro80s.

[philwsailz]

Okay.... And you are pouring some pretty large power too; I recall...

You still should be okay, but seriously, were I doing that install on one of my boats, I would probably consider 12-gage wire for the application.

You might seriously consider Chpthril's recommendation, based on the application, I think I agree.

[THE g]

Seems like overkill to me. I pulled double 16ga sets plus all the wire for my lights without incident. Twice to be exact as i forgot one the first time! It seems to me that rigid/stiff wire would have more of an opportunity to wear through if it's against the inside tower walls and vibration occurs, it won't flex. Just MY

The wire he is looking at is in wall rated for home,it is double jacketed to re sist rub through and not catch fire.

[Jeff T]

I have decided to go with 14 gauge. If I need to repull 12 later, I can. You can only drill bigger...not smaller. The 14 is cheap enough that I'm not out much money if I decide to go bigger later.

I called and talked to the manager again. He was apologetic that they didn't have what he told me they would have. He ordered the 14 gauge. Will be overnighted and here tomorrow. He will honor the sale price that I was originally quoted.

[spharis]

I am glad you didn't take the quick way out.

[Jeff T]

I picked up the wire today. Much to my dismay, it is actually home theater wire. The shop didn't order car wire because they are in the process of exiting the car industry. They did not want to by a 500ft spool of car wire so that I can buy a small portion of it.

It seems pretty flexible. The sheath does seem a bit thin, but each strand inside is covered as well.

It reads the following on the wire:
"Sheer Wire - 142OFC105 - OXYGEN FREE SPEAKER CABLE 14 AWG E111196 TYPE (UL) CL3/PLTC DIRECT BURIAL, SUNLIGHT RESISTANT MADE IN USA - 09\07/06 1L"

I'm not sure if that print means anything or not.

Thoughts?

P.S. Excuse the ragged cut of the purple sheath. I did that with a dull razor blade for picture purposes.

[lee]

Oh, that stuff.












Should be fine to use.

[THE g]

I picked up the wire today. Much to my dismay, it is actually home theater wire. The shop didn't order car wire because they are in the process of exiting the car industry. They did not want to by a 500ft spool of car wire so that I can buy a small portion of it.

It seems pretty flexible. The sheath does seem a bit thin, but each strand inside is covered as well.

It reads the following on the wire:
"Sheer Wire - 142OFC105 - OXYGEN FREE SPEAKER CABLE 14 AWG E111196 TYPE (UL) CL3/PLTC DIRECT BURIAL, SUNLIGHT RESISTANT MADE IN USA - 09\07/06 1L"

I'm not sure if that print means anything or not.

Thoughts?

P.S. Excuse the ragged cut of the purple sheath. I did that with a dull razor blade for picture purposes.

That wire will be good the direct burial meens moisture wont effect it as it can be buried in dirt or used under water with out problems as long as the end is out of the water.