What do I forfeit by pushing the wire gauge to lenth rules?

Goldenvoice

Goldenvoice

Active Member
Installing some "porch speakers" at my oldest son's place in the next couple days. The run will probably be in the 75' range (could even be toward the 100' in one channel), but we've 16 gauge wire, which charts too small for the run.

The question: what is the result? Less volume? Loss of treble or bass? Does it overwork the amplifier?

?

I wouldn't normally push the envelope, but hey, they're 'porch speakers'.

Thanks all!

Joe
 
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If you're using zip cord, there's going to be an unusual amount of capacitance presented to the amplifier. Whether this is a problem or not depends on how much capacitance, and if the amp in question is touchy about such things.
 
From personal experience doing something similar, the power loss in a long run of small gauge wire will reduce the volume considerably. If you crank up the volume to compensate for the power loss you'll risk over driving the amp and sending a badly clipped signal to the speakers. With a run that long you really should use 10 gauge wire.
 
The 16AWG copper wire would present a 0.5Ohm resistance at 100ft while the 10AWG cable would present a 0.1Ohm resistance. Obviously the 0.1 value is better and the 0.5 Ohm resistance could become really important especially if the speakers are 4Ohm versions (the relative value of the wire resistance becomes significant compared to the speaker load). The resistance would be beneficial - perhaps - if the amp would drive two sets of speakers at the same time as the load would be higher and easier for the amp.

I would also take Echowars advice on capacitance of zip cord to the letter. It might be beneficial to take separate wires for signal and ground.
 
Use other/larger wire and route with separation between the leads. The sound will be much better.
 
You guys are great! It'll probably be around 50+' to get from the receiver to the porch, then another 10 or 20 to get to the little overhead speakers.

I'm planning to do for him, what I did on my porch - has worked well. I found him a pair of small Advent 8ohm outdoor speakers for year-round overheads, and a pair of Pioneer CS-77's for 'party speakers'.

I have mine wired as in diagram. I can shut off the little overheads, and plug the party speakers in the 1/4" jacks. Mine has worked for several years - the ground side is still active to the little overheads, even when the switch is off... See any problems here?

Also, called a local electrical supply shop 12/4 SL cord is 79c' - seems like an affordable way to go. Mine, here at home, is probably 10/4 - something I snagged at a yard/shop sale...

Oh, is the capacitance issues something we need to think about even with 'proper' size wire? System driven with a Concept 6.5
porchspeakerwiringdiagr.jpg
 
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