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#1722641 - 10/21/09 05:51 PM 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts
curt96olds
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i have some 12 gauge speaker wire and i was wondering if it was big enough to power my subs, the wires would see about 250 watts rms.
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#1722642 - 10/21/09 05:53 PM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: curt96olds]
basher8621
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12 awg would deffenitly be enough.
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#1722710 - 10/21/09 11:58 PM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: basher8621]
keep_hope_alive Moderator
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yep, 12awg is fine for 250W.
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#1724693 - 10/24/09 09:40 PM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: keep_hope_alive]
ItsmEitsrick
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Complete and total overkill, but yea it will work. Might as well use it if you have it laying around.
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#1725447 - 10/26/09 01:13 PM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: ItsmEitsrick]
:rock:
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 Originally Posted By: ItsmEitsrick
Complete and total overkill, but yea it will work. Might as well use it if you have it laying around.


i wouldn't call it overkill, 12ga is the smallest i would ever use for subwoofers. now on the other hand, my 8ga speaker leads...

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#1725862 - 10/27/09 06:42 AM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: :rock:]
imtfox Administrator
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Yea, but 250w at most 3ft away... 12ga is overkill. \:p
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#1726357 - 10/29/09 06:00 AM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: imtfox]
keep_hope_alive Moderator
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i don't use anything smaller than 14AWG for subs.
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#1726530 - 10/29/09 11:15 AM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: keep_hope_alive]
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Hey Guys, in a general sense, yes; 12 AWG is enough for subs; but then again maybe not! here's SOME of what needs to be considered: Whether the "Y" factor (conductance) of the wire IS actually compatible with 12 AWG or more like 14/15. Why? because almost NONE of the wire sold today is truly what it is. When it says '12 AWG', the diameter may be more compatible with 14 and when it says '14 AWG', the internal diamater (ID) may be more like 16...so you see, there's a lot more to consider. Wanna know how to REALLY check? use a signal generator to generate a frequency close to the resonant freq. of the box or driver; example 45HZ. connect a dummy load equal to the speaker's impedance to an amplifier in full range mode (no crossover) and drive the load and measure the voltage drop across the wire. If it's is MORE than 0.6 VDC at 70% power, the wire is too small, regardless of the number printed on it.
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#1726531 - 10/29/09 11:18 AM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: PCBGuru]
imtfox Administrator
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AWG is by cross sectional mils of copper, not physical diameter. The diameter is more of a function of strand count.

If a person is asking if 12ga is enough for subs, they aren't going to hook up a signal generator and a dummy load...
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#1726886 - 10/30/09 05:52 AM Re: 12 gauge speaker wire enough?tts [Re: imtfox]
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agreed. that test is not going to be performed by anyone asking questions.
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