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Wire gauge to match coils?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 7:24 pm
by TXATC
Howdy again folks!
As it states. I know Bill has specified particular wire gauge for the drivers. Also stated to use smallest available wire gauge for coils for filters. Should I be trying to match the driver wire gauge to the coil gauge or as close as possible? Or does it even matter being the coils are what the are? Again thanks in advance.
Re: Wire gauge to match coils?
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:45 am
by CoronaOperator
You have to follow the plans. Some coils are just shunts to ground so smallest diameter wire you can find is fine to save some weight and money. Other coils carry the full current so Bill lists the minimum DCR (resistance) that is acceptable, these ones use a much larger wire and are much heavier and costly.
Re: Wire gauge to match coils?
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:12 am
by byacey
Smaller gauge wire increases the resistance and lowers the Q of the coil. It's better to use heavier gauge wire when possible to keep the DC resistance as low as possible.
Re: Wire gauge to match coils?
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 5:55 am
by Rune Bivrin
If you're referring to the wiring between Speakon and cross-over or cross-over and drivers there's little to worry about. The lengths are so short you can get use #18 AWG for pretty much anything. Two feet of #18 is 0.0255 ohms. Pretty insignificant. Even #20 is generally OK.
There's no "matching" to consider.
For the coils in the cross-overs, on the other hand, you need to be mindful of the gauge.
Re: Wire gauge to match coils?
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 11:29 am
by byacey
I think I misunderstood the question. I was speaking of the wire gauge of the coil windings.
Re: Wire gauge to match coils?
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 11:51 am
by TXATC
So if my coil wrapped with 22awg and the wire from drivers to crossover are say 16awg then there shouldn't be an issue? Noob here just trying to get all my ducks in a row before I start with the dust.
Re: Wire gauge to match coils?
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:01 pm
by Bill Fitzmaurice
TXATC wrote:So if my coil wrapped with 22awg and the wire from drivers to crossover are say 16awg then there shouldn't be an issue?
None at all.
Re: Wire gauge to match coils?
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:01 am
by TXATC
Thanks everybody! Item 22 off the list. 1276342 more.

Sometimes I wonder if I over think things....