what gauge of wire should I be using

[pochoboy]

what gauge of wire should I be using for the internal wiring of my speaker build?
actually its the wire from the source in to the xo's and the wire from the xo's to the woofer/tweeter/mid terminals.
will 18g good enough?

[rogoll]

18 Gauge should be O.K., unless these are some really serious high wattage drivers.

Take a look at the American Wire Gauge Table.

[williamrschneider]

One man's suggestions...

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/orion-faq.htm#Q10

[lunchmoney]

I use 18 gauge for internal wiring inside speakers and for crossovers, and 14-16 for longer external runs.

[lunchmoney]

So to answer your question: yes, 18 gauge is fine

[rogoll]

18 Gauge should be O.K., unless these are some really serious high wattage drivers.

Take a look at the American Wire Gauge Table.

I should have mentioned...make sure it's stranded (as opposed to solid). Some disagree with this, but my opinion is that you can have issues with "skin effect" in the audio frequency spectrum. Take a look at the column on the far left of the AWG table.

[pochoboy]

Thanks guys!

[WayneN]

So to answer your question: yes, 18 gauge is fine

As I slowly get closer to doing my build, this was one of my questions.

Now in the Linkwitz guideline 18 gauge up to 8’ which is understandable but what is preferred by most builders Stranded wire or solid wire? Does it really matter, why?

WayneN

[rogoll]

This gentleman seems to be rather well informed --> http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~jcgl/Sc...ect/page2.html

[brianpowers27]

I love 12 gauge. Find yourself a deal. I found a 250ft roll shipped for $50 on ebay. I use it exclusively on all runs that are longer than 10ft. Keep in mind the effect the wire has is directly correlated to the impedance. Lower impedances are more affected by the cable's series resistance.

PE currently has 50ft of 16 gauge for $3. This is a good choice for shorter internal runs.

[cpcarter]

I just use 12 or 14 Ga speaker/lamp/zip cord usually left over or always avaiable from home depot, Lowes etc.

Guess you could make a case for Oxygen free for long-term corrosion resistance. I have seen some of my old builds develop the green crud but I'm talking 1975 and the foam had rotted off the old CTS woofers by then so is it worth it? Probably.

CC

[rogoll]

I just use 12 or 14 Ga speaker/lamp/zip cord usually left over or always avaiable from home depot, Lowes etc.

Guess you could make a case for Oxygen free for long-term corrosion resistance. I have seen some of my old builds develop the green crud but I'm talking 1975 and the foam had rotted off the old CTS woofers by then so is it worth it? Probably.

CC

I just read something that I hadn't heard before. In "Great Sound Stereo Speaker Manual" (McGraw-Hill, 2nd ed.), the author said that many people are opposed to soldering connections (to XO as well as tinning the leads at the speaker connection/terminal cup), claiming that solder is far less conductive. He said these people prefer to used crimped connections. I hadn't heard this before, but to me a crimped connection is going to suffer from oxidation eventually, and less of the wire is actually in contact with the connector. Personally, I prefer to tin any exposed wiring, and if using a crimp connector (like this) I will tin/solder it after crimping.

What are your thoughts?

[brijenjas]

I just read something that I hadn't heard before. In "Great Sound Stereo Speaker Manual" (McGraw-Hill, 2nd ed.), the author said that many people are opposed to soldering connections (to XO as well as tinning the leads at the speaker connection/terminal cup), claiming that solder is far less conductive. He said these people prefer to used crimped connections. I hadn't heard this before, but to me a crimped connection is going to suffer from oxidation eventually, and less of the wire is actually in contact with the connector. Personally, I prefer to tin any exposed wiring, and if using a crimp connector (like this) I will tin/solder it after crimping.

What are your thoughts?

I always wrap/twist the wires/leads for my crossover together,then give them a little squeeze with pliers before soldering.
Best of both worlds?

I also solder any crimped connections.

[Æ]

I just read something that I hadn't heard before. In "Great Sound Stereo Speaker Manual" (McGraw-Hill, 2nd ed.), the author said that many people are opposed to soldering connections (to XO as well as tinning the leads at the speaker connection/terminal cup), claiming that solder is far less conductive. He said these people prefer to used crimped connections. I hadn't heard this before, but to me a crimped connection is going to suffer from oxidation eventually, and less of the wire is actually in contact with the connector. Personally, I prefer to tin any exposed wiring, and if using a crimp connector (like this) I will tin/solder it after crimping.
What are your thoughts?

Bogus.
If soldering is so bad, then why is it in every piece of electronic equipment made? Sure solder is a poor conductor, but what it lacks for in conductance it makes up for in surface area. Besides it's a good practice to have the actual conductors in contact, close proximity before soldering them anyway. If the wires are touching then they don't need to rely on the solder for conducting.
Soldering also blocks out moisture and oxygen from the connection.
The only people who don't solder are the ones who don't know how!