wire size too big?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=30258
Printed Date: July 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Topic: wire size too big?
Posted By: kure
Subject: wire size too big?
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 5:40 PM
would 15 awg wire be an over kill for these speakers https://www.sounddomain.com/sku/ROCCPSBF i want this because its TINNED 1) a pair of infinity kappa 60.5cs components(90 rms) 2) a pair of infinity kappa 6x9 2 ways(110rms)
Replies:
Posted By: customsuburb
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 5:51 PM
that wire would be fine.
Posted By: minitruck_freq
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 5:53 PM
go to radio shack and get 50' of 16 ga. speaker wire for $5. u will NEVER here a difference between that and "tinned" rockford wire. and why pay $.50/ft for speaker wire?
Posted By: Sweekster
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 6:16 PM
Ditto.
Don't waste your money. ------------- Duane...
If you think you're confused, imagine how you feel. 
Posted By: kure
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 6:17 PM
so y all these ppl are always saying " anything over 16awg in car audio is an over kill" damn
Posted By: framedragger
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 6:43 PM
because ur speakers probably would run fine with anything under 15 gauge.
Posted By: pureRF
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 9:36 PM
im running like a 14-16 gauge to my Eclipse 15 aluminum with 600 watts and its fine.
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dream it, build it, fiberglass it
Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 9:46 PM
its ok to run 16 guage up to about 15 feet for speakers, after that its best to go for 14 guage. as for subs, 16 guage is chokeing your amp a lil, but it works. 14 guage is good for about 500 watts, 12 guage up and above. Those wire sizes aren't law, there just a good place for you to start at when deciding wire size. ------------- 2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 11:57 PM
I talked to my boss, the CEO of Adire Audio about this before I started working there. He told me that anything over 16 awg wire is overkill for subs. The question was in reference to the 1200 watts running to my Brahma 10 in a .36 cubic foot enclosure. Unfortunately we were out of that wire that day, so I ran 18 awg for the competition. I was able to pull a 142.3 dB at the competition with that setup, so I can assure you that it wasn't "choked" at all. The reason why your power wire to the amp needs to be large is because of the lower voltage (high current). But the output of the amp is higher voltage, so you can get away with much smaller wire. Large awg wire and the more expensive stuff looks really cool. Heck, I will probably have 8 awg wire running to my sub when I'm done. But it isn't needed. Steven Kephart Adire Audio -------------
Posted By: Ketel22
Date Posted: April 13, 2004 at 3:41 AM
just a thought but isnt there some formula that i dont want to look for that shows what the best gauge wire is to use for you setup, run and etc. i mean wire is ment to handle amps not watts or volts.
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Quad L Handyman services
Posted By: Big Dog
Date Posted: April 13, 2004 at 9:36 AM
kure] wrote:
i want this because its TINNED
Excellent idea!
Don't forget guys that wire size is not like pipe size for water. Lemme explain. If you want more water to flow you'd get a larger pipe. However this is not true in electricity. Electrons flow on the surface of wires not within the wires. This is why multiple strands of oxygen free and tinned wires make sense in audio especially harsh environments like car audio.
You'd probably never hear the difference between Radio Shack 16ga and Rockford 16ga (or any other reputable brand), but you might see a difference months later when it turns black from oxidation.
Black wires = oxydation=less current carrying capability.
Just to resume . . . oxygen free and tinned makes sense!
This is what we call a sound decision! (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)
------------- Prepare your future. It wasn't the lack of stones that killed the stone age.
Posted By: flatulatta
Date Posted: April 13, 2004 at 9:54 AM
but do you honestly think that there will be a noticable difference after it has oxidized??... my neighbors ben running regular wire from like radioshack for almost two years with no difference in sound...perhaps going with a larger wire would sound the same as the tinned wire of smaller size but i really dont think there could be a noticable difference
Posted By: kure
Date Posted: April 14, 2004 at 9:32 AM
is the knukonceptz 16 AWG KARMA SPEAKER KABLE tinned?? cuz it doesnt say anything about being tinned
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