Lets talk cables

[Bones]

Please try not to destroy me, ive already learned from my mistakes

I let a fellow DJ use my Titatns and my Otops for a gig and a cable coming from my tops had a short, so h pulls out a much higher quality cable and i hear my tops sound clearer than ever before!!! Now i feel dumb because ive been using cheap Ebay cables for my subs and tops and i feel like ive been shorting myslef badly by being cheap!!

Now i want to do it the right way:
what are the proper gauges i should use for my tops and subs, and what brand do you guys recommend

[ewetho]

Anything near 50 ft or more I would suggest 12 ga. wire.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/speake ... istant.swf

Never buy cables, make your own.

[Bruce Weldy]

While there are charts that will tell you what size for what distance.....I use 12 ga. all the time regardless of length. I'm not going to try and save $2 per cable. Go buy some bulk cable and a bunch of NL4 and make 'em. No soldering required and you'll have great cables at a better price than store-bought.

[TimeWarp]

And the recommended bulk cable models and suppliers are....????
Thanks!

[J_Dunavin]

www.partsexpress.com

Haven't tried these guys yet, but am going to for this next project.
http://store.haveinc.com/t-bulkaudiocablecategory.aspx

Also haven't tried these guys, but i want to.
http://audiopile.net/products/BULK_CABL ... ABLE.shtml

[DJPhatman]

Haven't tried these guys yet, but am going to for this next project.
http://store.haveinc.com/t-bulkaudiocablecategory.aspx

Re-donk-u-lous-ly high prices. Look locally for better prices. WOW!

[J_Dunavin]

really?

i thought these would be good.
http://store.haveinc.com/p-50212-gepco- ... cable.aspx
and
http://store.haveinc.com/p-50222-gepco- ... cable.aspx

please let me know if i'm going down the wrong path

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

really?

i thought these would be good.
http://store.haveinc.com/p-50212-gepco- ... cable.aspx
and
http://store.haveinc.com/p-50222-gepco- ... cable.aspx

please let me know if i'm going down the wrong path

Looks OK to me.

[LEVLHED]

I was using 13ga all around, but after that chart thing Bill has posted a few times recently I've decided to switch my subs over to 10ga. I'll keep the 13ga on the mains.
Too bad Parts Express doesn't carry 2-conductor 10ga.

[RubiconProSound]

I use the 12 gauge, 2 conductor SJOOW cable from Carol cable. I get mine from Home Depot but I'm sure you can find it cheaper somewhere else if you look. I use this wire for speaker and power. (3 conductor for power applications)

I'm also with Bruce, just buy a bunch of NL4's and screw them on. You can't beat field serviceable with just a screwdriver.

If you're curious about the codes on wires here's the breakdown:

S = Service Cord (600 volt standard unless the J follows it...)
J = Junior Service ("junior" is 300 volts or less)
T = Thermoplastic outer jacket
E = Elastomer outer jacket
O = Oil resistant outer jacket (usually rubber or a synthetic variation...)
OO = Oil resistant outer jacket, Oil resistant conductor insulation
W = CSA weather and water resistant (approved for indoor and outdoor use)

Here's a nice website with general information the amperage rating for the various gauges of SOOW and SJOOW...

http://www.pittsburghwire.com/pdf/CatalogD2.pdf

Here's a long article on the use of portable power cords in the entertainment industry.

http://www.local16.org/safetycommittee/ ... essp02.pdf

[Bruce Weldy]

I've decided to switch my subs over to 10ga. I.
.

How long is the cable run to your subs? 200 feet? Using the calculator that Bill posted, 12 gauge is good for well over 100 feet at 4 ohms and 900 watts (running two Titans off one cable).

In fact, according to the calculator....13 ga running 1200 watts at 4ohms over 100 feet is still under the 1db loss level.

No reason for 10 gauge.....use 12 (or even 13) for everything - you'll be just fine.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I was using 13ga all around, but after that chart thing Bill has posted a few times recently I've decided to switch my subs over to 10ga. I'll keep the 13ga on the mains.
Too bad Parts Express doesn't carry 2-conductor 10ga.

If you have to use 10 gauge your cables are too long. You should have the amps located as close as possible to the speakers.