#881599 - 09/08/00 05:14 PM
The right cable
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alanschmitz@hotmail.com_dup1
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Registered: 09/06/00
Posts: 0
Loc: La Mesa,CA,UNITED STATES
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What is the formula for determining the guage of speaker cable?
What guage, for how many watts, for how long a run?
Jeff
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#881600 - 09/11/00 01:30 PM
Re: The right cable
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breakway@bellatlantic.net
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Registered: 06/25/00
Posts: 40
Loc: ,NJ,UNITED STATES
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Catalogs from manufacturers such as Belden and West Penn usually include a chart that shows what you seek. A rule of thumb is, if you double the length, double the gauge. For example, if you use 25 feet of 16 gauge, for 50 feet you need 14 gauge. When in doubt, use the largest you can get, and/or that can be terminated in the connectors. Also, keep in mind that maintaining a high damping factor at low frequencies means low resistance in the cabling.
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#881601 - 09/19/00 08:25 PM
Re: The right cable
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PJR
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Registered: 08/09/99
Posts: 653
Loc: Orange Co, Ny
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Jeff, there are specific formula's for determining gauge vs impediance vs length factoring required power needed. In multiple amp systems you can even get frequency specific, ie : specific gauge for each speaker enclosure. All of which I couldn't begin to tell you. What I will tell you is the following:
1.Keep the speaker lines (that is the line from the amp to the speaker) as short as possible. Make it practical though, depending on the venues you play, and the complexity of your setup, most giggers should be able to get away with 25-50'. Keep the amp rack close to one side , and determine the max stage width you need, keeping in mind any twists and turns you might encounter.
2.Gauges from 10-14 should be adequate for most systems. I run 30' pro-co 11-4, which is 11 gauge wire, with 2 separate signals traveling, one for the lows, and one for the highs( typical bi-amp setup) terminated in nuetrix NL-4. All that means is I can run one set of fairly beefy speaker cables, that link 2 amps to the sub via nuetrix, then a small jumper from the sub to the mid/high cab.Pretty neat.
I was hoping to keep things simple.....but, well you know how us gear-freaks get....Anyhow, in summary, 10-14 gauge is good, keep it as short as possible.
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