Help, solid wire Vs Stranded wire for amp and speakers
09-22-2008, 11:49 PM
#12
2000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,026
I've done solid for power and stranded for speakers.
The power is 4 awg and it was brutal to run . . . granted it was cheap - construction site dumpster, but nasty for making those tight corners around the firewall . . . if you do use solid, keep it FAR FAR AWAY from moving parts.
When I first pulled my 4 awg through I tried to keep it away from moving parts . . . but I didn't try hard enough. A few days after I installed, the wire shifted. I was accelerated and noticed that my gas pedal seemed to be hitting something. I mashed the gas and 'broke through' that obstacle. When I clutched for 3rd gear, the engine raced - and the car continued to accelerate through 3rd . . . I killed the engine adn coasted to a stop. THe problem: My gas pedal linkage ran into the power wire, and when I pushed the gas hard, popped to the other side of the wire jamming the pedal . . . I don't think that stranded would have had this effect.
Needless to say - that wire has been tie-wrapped to death out of the way.
The power is 4 awg and it was brutal to run . . . granted it was cheap - construction site dumpster, but nasty for making those tight corners around the firewall . . . if you do use solid, keep it FAR FAR AWAY from moving parts.
When I first pulled my 4 awg through I tried to keep it away from moving parts . . . but I didn't try hard enough. A few days after I installed, the wire shifted. I was accelerated and noticed that my gas pedal seemed to be hitting something. I mashed the gas and 'broke through' that obstacle. When I clutched for 3rd gear, the engine raced - and the car continued to accelerate through 3rd . . . I killed the engine adn coasted to a stop. THe problem: My gas pedal linkage ran into the power wire, and when I pushed the gas hard, popped to the other side of the wire jamming the pedal . . . I don't think that stranded would have had this effect.
Needless to say - that wire has been tie-wrapped to death out of the way.
09-23-2008, 12:40 PM
#15
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 61
Solid core suffers from skin effect worse than stranded wire. That's why stranded wire is twisted, as skin effect does occur, the travel of current to the outside of the conductor is minimized as they are thinner, and the average of skin travel means it makes it equally between the core and skin of the conductor.
But skin effect does not occur on DC to the same degree as on AC, and voltage and frequency play a big part in that, as well as insulation leakage in HV installations.
But skin effect does not occur on DC to the same degree as on AC, and voltage and frequency play a big part in that, as well as insulation leakage in HV installations.
09-23-2008, 05:33 PM
#18
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 61
I used to think that as well, until I became an electrician and you work along side the HV guys. I guess it's more pronounced on high voltage lines, like over 14.4kV.
On DC it really doesn't exist, and on low volatge AC (like what your amps generate) it doesn't exist in damaging amounts either, but it is still there.
They don't make solid core wire bigger than #10 for electrical use simply because it's easier to pull. We are required by code to understand when it's supposed to apply, like in radii of bends for example.
On DC it really doesn't exist, and on low volatge AC (like what your amps generate) it doesn't exist in damaging amounts either, but it is still there.
They don't make solid core wire bigger than #10 for electrical use simply because it's easier to pull. We are required by code to understand when it's supposed to apply, like in radii of bends for example.
09-25-2008, 01:21 PM
#20
solid wire will break the terminals off your speakers. but go ahead and use it if you really need to save a couple bucks. 
Skin effect works well for RF. Silver plated copper is why RG-223 has 1/2 the loss of RG-58. at UHF
Skin effect works well for RF. Silver plated copper is why RG-223 has 1/2 the loss of RG-58. at UHF
