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Is using speaker wire(12awg) as ground wire bad?

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Topic review
   

Expand view Topic review: Is using speaker wire(12awg) as ground wire bad?

by GlassWolf » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:40 pm

JeremyC wrote:Wire is wire, as long as it can carry enough current.
Just remember power in a DC current flows from ground to positive. So your ground wire is just as important as your hot.
Not important. It's a circuit, so regardless of electron flow direction, the ground wire is just as critical as the rest of the circuit. As you mentioned, what matters is the current carried, and the length of the wire to determine the proper gauge.

Now as for using speaker wire, I do not recommend this, as it's not properly shielded (thermally) for high current applications.

by Tim » Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:56 am

One thing I have found over the years, the one place NOT to skimp is the wiring. Whether it is signal cables(RCA's speaker), or you hot and ground.

You most surely dont want to skimp with the hot and ground. You could lose a possible several thousand dollar investment. I mean, go and get good wire. And I am also a firm believer in overkill, especially where the power wire is concerned. Going from the battery to a pos. distribution block go as big as you can, an also with the ground.

The thing is when wire isnt big enough to carry the current you have flowing through it, it overheats and then your problems start, no need to do into that as you know what can happen.

So just go out and spend a few bones( I know they are really scarce right now), and get some good wire and the stuff to make your connections right.

You will thank yourself later.

tim


BTW just my .02

by falkenbd » Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:35 am

MrSo0h0o wrote:Yea i was thinking about just placing another order with knukonceptz for some power wire and a ground distro block.
the knukonceptz blocks are crap IMO, might as well get something locally and forgo paying shipping.

by Ryan from Ohio » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:59 am

MrSo0h0o wrote:actually i think its 8 gauge wire.. i checked my order history from knukonceptz lol..
Even that.

The fact is electric will take the path of least resistance. I

If you tried putting 4 pieces of speaker wire together it may be a sizable amount overall. Issue is my above sentence. Theres going to be one that has elss resistance and its going to take all the current. Its inevitable.

by MrSo0h0o » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:44 am

falkenbd wrote:Get some decent wire and a distro block while you are at it.
Yea i was thinking about just placing another order with knukonceptz for some power wire and a ground distro block.

by falkenbd » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:38 am

MrSo0h0o wrote:Well its actually for my main ground. I have a 4 gauge wire for my ground that is going to my eclipse 4 ch amp and an 8 gauge wire from the eclipse's ground terminal to the cadence's ground terminal. The 4 gauge is too short and it keeps coming out of the terminal when I hit a hard bump or my chassis flexes too much. I may try and organize my wiring a little better over the weekend.
Get some decent wire and a distro block while you are at it.

by MrSo0h0o » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:21 am

Ryan from Ohio wrote:Ya you cant substitute 4Ga with 12Ga... lol No way.
actually i think its 8 gauge wire.. i checked my order history from knukonceptz lol..

by Ryan from Ohio » Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:48 am

Ya you cant substitute 4Ga with 12Ga... lol No way.

by MrSo0h0o » Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:19 am

Well its actually for my main ground. I have a 4 gauge wire for my ground that is going to my eclipse 4 ch amp and an 8 gauge wire from the eclipse's ground terminal to the cadence's ground terminal. The 4 gauge is too short and it keeps coming out of the terminal when I hit a hard bump or my chassis flexes too much. I may try and organize my wiring a little better over the weekend.

by Ryan from Ohio » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:52 am

No that wont work.

Im assuming its for that Cadence amp.

As advised, hit your local shop for a foot or two of wire.

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