I'm out of 8 gauge wire, can I double up on 16 gauge speaker wire?

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Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Going to hook up a new amp. Can I just use both sides of 16 gauge speaker wire?
 
M

marvdmartian

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2002
5,441
27
91
If you're going to jury rig it temporarily (and I do mean VERY temporarily!!), you're better to do tripled up 16 gauge wire. Wire gauges are measured by the diameter of the wire, much like pipe sizes. But two 2" pipes will not carry the same volume as one 4" pipe. Much the same, you're not going to be able to pump the same volume of electricity, or current, thru two 16 gauge wires as you would one 8 gauge wire. If you're using stranded 16 gauge speaker wire (which is going to be 2 wires side by side), I'd suggest using at least 2 lengths, or 4x (versus the 2x you're asking about). You're much less likely to have an overheating (and fire :shocked: ) problem. Then get yourself the 8 gauge wire you need, asap, and replace it.
 
dullard

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,761
4,282
126
8 gauge wire can handle ~17.5 A of current with a 10°C temperature rise in the wire.

16 gauge wire can handle ~7 A of current with a 10°C temperature rise in the wire.

Two 16 gauge wires together can then handle ~14 A of current, 25% less than one 8 gauge wire can handle.

So your plan is close, but it still isn't as capable as the proper solution.
 
M

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
Originally posted by: marvdmartian
If you're going to jury rig it temporarily (and I do mean VERY temporarily!!), you're better to do tripled up 16 gauge wire. Wire gauges are measured by the diameter of the wire, much like pipe sizes. But two 2" pipes will not carry the same volume as one 4" pipe. Much the same, you're not going to be able to pump the same volume of electricity, or current, thru two 16 gauge wires as you would one 8 gauge wire. If you're using stranded 16 gauge speaker wire (which is going to be 2 wires side by side), I'd suggest using at least 2 lengths, or 4x (versus the 2x you're asking about). You're much less likely to have an overheating (and fire :shocked: ) problem. Then get yourself the 8 gauge wire you need, asap, and replace it.
Click to expand...

Speaker wires can catch fire?? :confused:
 
D

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
stop listening to these experts and just do it already, jeesh :)

what's the worst that could happen?
 
Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Nice, I just found some 4 gauge wire that I think is long enough. The amp probably won't use all that juice but can't hurt right?
 
S

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
Originally posted by: dxkj
stop listening to these experts and just do it already, jeesh :)

what's the worst that could happen?
Click to expand...

Seriously man. Just run the wire right into the wall outlets and be done with it.
 
L

LordMorpheus

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2002
6,871
1
0
if tha guage is related to diameter, no. If guage has to do with area, then yes.

If the gauge is related to diameter, if 8 gauge is twice the diameter of 16 gauge, you'd need 4 strands of 16 gauge to give you the same conducting area of one strand of 8.

I'm with the guy who said do it right.
 
GuitarDaddy

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
Just use the 16ga wire. With speaker wire the larger guage only provides slightly improved bass response, chances are you will not be able to tell the difference in sound quality unless you are an extreme audophile.

And for those talking about the amp load of different guage wires, it's totally irelavent this is SPEAKER wire.
 
drinkmorejava

drinkmorejava

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,567
7
81
Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
if tha guage is related to diameter, no. If guage has to do with area, then yes.

If the gauge is related to diameter, if 8 gauge is twice the diameter of 16 gauge, you'd need 4 strands of 16 gauge to give you the same conducting area of one strand of 8.

I'm with the guy who said do it right.
Click to expand...

Either I really missed something out of Electronics III or it's like this.

*gauge is diameter, something like every 6 gauge is a doubling in diameter
*actual resistance is proportional to circumferential area; hence, braided wires have significantly different resistances than solid wires despite a similar amount of metal.
 
J

JonnyBlaze

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,114
1
0
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Just use the 16ga wire. With speaker wire the larger guage only provides slightly improved bass response, chances are you will not be able to tell the difference in sound quality unless you are an extreme audophile.

And for those talking about the amp load of different guage wires, it's totally irelavent this is SPEAKER wire.
Click to expand...

he said he ran out of 8ga wire. he wants to use speaker wire to replace it.

i dont know about you but i havnt seen too many installs using 8ga speaker wire. its gotta be for his power.

 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
Originally posted by: marvdmartian
If you're going to jury rig it temporarily (and I do mean VERY temporarily!!), you're better to do tripled up 16 gauge wire. Wire gauges are measured by the diameter of the wire, much like pipe sizes. But two 2" pipes will not carry the same volume as one 4" pipe. Much the same, you're not going to be able to pump the same volume of electricity, or current, thru two 16 gauge wires as you would one 8 gauge wire. If you're using stranded 16 gauge speaker wire (which is going to be 2 wires side by side), I'd suggest using at least 2 lengths, or 4x (versus the 2x you're asking about). You're much less likely to have an overheating (and fire :shocked: ) problem. Then get yourself the 8 gauge wire you need, asap, and replace it.
Click to expand...
WTF?

Yeah, go ahead. 16 gauge is enough for almost all applications. You don't have to double up. Unless you're planning on running huge amounts of power through it...
 
J

JonnyBlaze

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,114
1
0
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: marvdmartian
If you're going to jury rig it temporarily (and I do mean VERY temporarily!!), you're better to do tripled up 16 gauge wire. Wire gauges are measured by the diameter of the wire, much like pipe sizes. But two 2" pipes will not carry the same volume as one 4" pipe. Much the same, you're not going to be able to pump the same volume of electricity, or current, thru two 16 gauge wires as you would one 8 gauge wire. If you're using stranded 16 gauge speaker wire (which is going to be 2 wires side by side), I'd suggest using at least 2 lengths, or 4x (versus the 2x you're asking about). You're much less likely to have an overheating (and fire :shocked: ) problem. Then get yourself the 8 gauge wire you need, asap, and replace it.
Click to expand...
WTF?

Yeah, go ahead. 16 gauge is enough for almost all applications. You don't have to double up. Unless you're planning on running huge amounts of power through it...
Click to expand...

16ga is not enough to power an amp!!!

 
B

BigPoppa

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,930
0
0
The 4ga you found will be fine. Bigger is always better with power wires in a car amp install. The problem i'd have with running 2 or 3 sets of 16ga would be that your ground wire(s) might not get full contact, which is bad mojo.
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
Originally posted by: Kalvin00
Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze


16ga is not enough to power an amp!!!
Click to expand...

Indeed. 16 gauge is enough for about...oh, a 50 watt amp, at most. and a short run at that
Click to expand...
Oh, I thought he was using it as speaker wire. lawl :eek:
 
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