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Is using speaker wire(12awg) as ground wire bad?

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falkenbd
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Post by falkenbd »

MrSo0h0o wrote:Yea i was thinking about just placing another order with knukonceptz for some power wire and a ground distro block.
the knukonceptz blocks are crap IMO, might as well get something locally and forgo paying shipping.
Tim
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Post by Tim »

One thing I have found over the years, the one place NOT to skimp is the wiring. Whether it is signal cables(RCA's speaker), or you hot and ground.

You most surely dont want to skimp with the hot and ground. You could lose a possible several thousand dollar investment. I mean, go and get good wire. And I am also a firm believer in overkill, especially where the power wire is concerned. Going from the battery to a pos. distribution block go as big as you can, an also with the ground.

The thing is when wire isnt big enough to carry the current you have flowing through it, it overheats and then your problems start, no need to do into that as you know what can happen.

So just go out and spend a few bones( I know they are really scarce right now), and get some good wire and the stuff to make your connections right.

You will thank yourself later.

tim


BTW just my .02
"The opinions expressed in the preceding post are purely an opinion and not meant to be used as a reference. So if you screw something up because of something I said I will not and can not be held responsible". Thank you for understanding.
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GlassWolf
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Post by GlassWolf »

JeremyC wrote:Wire is wire, as long as it can carry enough current.
Just remember power in a DC current flows from ground to positive. So your ground wire is just as important as your hot.
Not important. It's a circuit, so regardless of electron flow direction, the ground wire is just as critical as the rest of the circuit. As you mentioned, what matters is the current carried, and the length of the wire to determine the proper gauge.

Now as for using speaker wire, I do not recommend this, as it's not properly shielded (thermally) for high current applications.
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