Can You Use Automotive Wire for Speaker Wire? Automotive wires are nothing else than electrical wires, and although they can transfer electricity, they are not the best option for speaker wires. Automotive wires work fine in warmer environments, and they are used in many factory car audio systems.
Full Answer
How do you hook up speakers to a car stereo?
Use a pair of male-to-male speaker wires. Use the wires that are installed in the car or you can get a set of female-to-female speaker wires to do this. Use the speaker wires to connect the wires that were previously installed for the speakers in the back of the speakers.
What are the speaker wires in a car?
Before you know what are the speaker wires in a car, you need to know how they come into play. The speaker wires are housed in a metal housing. They have all of the wires attached to them, all of which are connected to the source of power for the speakers. There are three wires in a speaker wire – ground, positive, and negative.
What happens if you don’t wire car speakers?
An important precaution when wiring car stereo speakers is to never work on the electrical system of your car if the ground wire is still attached to your battery. Failure to abide to this precaution can result in electric shock! Furthermore you could also damage the speakers.
Can car speakers turn on by themselves?
Car speakers, especially high-end speakers, have a lot of wires and cables that must be connected in order to properly operate the system in your vehicle. Therefore, it’s imperative that the proper set of wires are put in place in order to prevent the damage to the speakers from turning on by themselves.
What's the difference between speaker wire and automotive wire?
Speaker wires and electric wires may appear similar, but they're also different. Speaker wires are stranded, while electric wires are available in stranded and solid forms. Some electric wires are designed for high voltage current, whereas speaker wires mainly handle low voltage current.
Can I use any wire as speaker wire?
Coaxial cable, instrument cable, and other audio cable types should not be used to drive speakers. They're designed for a low current, low voltage audio signal and are too small in size. You'll need a thicker wire.
What kind of wire can I use for speakers?
Speaker wires that are anywhere between 12 to 16 gauge are most commonly used for connecting speakers to an amplifier or an Audio/Video (A/V) receiver. A lower-gauge number indicates a thicker wire, while a higher-gauge number indicates a thinner wire.
Can you use speaker wire for automotive wire?
You can definitely use speaker wire for 12v power. The only factor to consider is the wire gauge. Various gauges will allow for higher or lower amperage, which, when multiplied with volts (in our case 12v), will give you the electrical load (watts) that the electrical device or appliance should be.
Can you use RCA cables as speaker wire?
Can you take a standard RCA cable, cut the ends off and use it as a speaker cable? You could, but the gauge of that wire really isn't the right gauge for speaker cable use and will make your amp\receiver run hotter because of the resistance factor and therefore lower the quality of the sound.
Can I use primary wire as speaker wire?
It will work just fine for speaker wire. So check, if it is certified for outdoor use, it will be safe to use as speaker wire.
Does wire gauge matter speakers?
Thick wire (12 or 14 gauge) is recommended for long wire runs, high power applications, and low-impedance speakers (4 or 6 ohms). For relatively short runs (less than 50 feet) to 8 ohm speakers, 16 gauge wire will usually do just fine. It's cost-effective and easy to work with.
What gauge is factory car speaker wire?
The speaker wires are all metric 0.75 mm2 so that's the equivalent of about 18.5 AWG (pretty small but it's relatively low power.
Can speaker cable be too thick?
Speaker wires can't be too thick because thicker wire means lower resistance, more signal flow, and better sound quality. Although not every setup needs a thick wire and the wire thickness depends on the speaker's impedance and the distance between the sources, you can't have too much of it.
Is automotive wire different?
The main difference between the two is the temperature range. A cross-linked automotive wire can withstand much higher temperatures. Regardless of insulation material, these wires have a voltage rating of 50V. There are three main wires for both insulations, all of which are primary/general use wires.
What gauge is automotive wire?
Standard automotive primary wire is 18 gauge.
Can you use thermostat wire for speakers?
The wire is fine for what it is. It is rated CL2 (same as most in-wall speaker cables) which means it is adequate for class 2 circuits, which most speaker cables are. The only noticeable difference may be it is solid wire.
Can I use solid copper wire for speakers?
There are no technical problems with solid copper wire as speaker cable from a sound quality standpoint.
Can I use lamp wire for speakers?
you will have no problem using zip cord (lamp cord) for speaker wire..... if you are putting the wire in the walls, then you should use inwall style wire and make sure you meet local codes for that type of install...
Is Thicker gauge speaker wire better?
Thicker wire presents less resistance to current flow. Relative thickness of wire gauges, drawn to scale (not actual size). Thick wire (12 or 14 gauge) is recommended for long wire runs, high power applications, and low-impedance speakers (4 or 6 ohms).
Do you need speaker wire for subs?
The speaker wires. If your sub system is going to put out more than 1,000 watts RMS, you can use 12-gauge speaker wire. But 16-gauge speaker wire works well for most installations. Take a hint and order twice as much as you think you need.
What is the black wire on a speaker?
The black wire is usually the negative wire and should be attached to the negative terminal on the speaker. The solid or white striped wire is the positivel and should be attached on the positive terminal on the speaker. Do not reverse the polarity of the speakers as opposing speakers will technically cancel each other out.
Why do new wiring have to be grounded?
Also new wiring must be established and properly grounded in such a manner so as to prevent short circuits, engine noises and vibrations. Therefore for safety reasons it is best to leave this part of this task to professionals.
Can you color code factory wiring?
You have two options when dealing with factory wiring. Either buy a harness to convert the factory plug to fit properly to your new speakers or remove the factory plug by cutting it out and attach the terminal ends of the wires directly to the speaker.
Is it hard to install aftermarket speakers?
Aftermarket speakers are relatively inexpensive, and the work done to install them is not as hard as you might think. Wiring of stereo speakers varies from car to car. The type of wiring depends on mounting depth and height and speaker location too.
Steps to Wire Car Radio to a Speaker
Start by plugging one end of the speaker wires into the positive terminal of the battery, and the other end into the negative terminal of the battery.
What are the speaker wires in a car?
If you’re thinking about starting a car business, one of the things you should have is what are the speaker wires in a car?
What color is the speaker wire for a car stereo?
Questions like “What color is the speaker wire for a car stereo?” and “What do you use to test for continuity?” are normal as far as purchasing a new set of speakers is concerned.
How do I connect speakers to my car radio?
Connecting speakers to your car stereo system is not as simple as it sounds.
What is the best wire for a car?
1.“GPT” or “Primary” Wire. This is the most common wire you find at auto stores. As its name implies, it is a good general purpose automotive wire. It features a multi stranded core and flexible insulation making it ideal for pulling through tight spaces. It is usually rated to 80ºC (176ºF).
What is motor wire used for?
Although most commonly used as internal wiring in appliances and HVAC equipment, motor wire is finding increasing use in automotive applications. 3. SXL Wire. SXL Wire features a cross linked polyethylene jacket that can withstand higher heat, abrasion, and aging better than GPT wire.
What is trailer wire?
Trailer wire is typically GPT or Primary wire that is colored and configured for common trailer applications. Most trailers use a common coloring system that uses Green, Yellow, Brown, and White for the various lighting functions. Purchasing 'Trailer' Wire makes a trailer re-wiring or repair project simpler.
What is the difference between GPT and motor wire?
The biggest difference between GPT and Motor wire is that motor wire features finer strands of wire. This allows it to handle higher voltages. Motor wire is rated at 600 Volts with a temperature rating of 105ºC (221ºF). It is resistant to grease, oil, acids, water, solvents, fungus. Although most commonly used as internal wiring in appliances ...
Where is wire depot made?
For the record, Wiring Depot wire is manufactured in the USA and is constructed of 100% copper.
What happens if you use the wrong type of wire?
It is important to make the proper selection. Using the wrong type of wire can lead to failures and fires.
Can you use wire in a car?
Never use wire intended for household use in vehicles, it is not designed to handle the heat, vibration, and chemical exposure. BEWARE of wire sold on discount sites, or any wire sold at too-good-to-be-true prices. Often this cheap wire is actually aluminum with a thin copper coating.
