Mixing speaker cable gauges

dougjwray · #1 07-21-2011, 11:11 AM

Sorry if this has been covered to death... I did a few searches and couldn't find an answer.
Is it okay to mix speaker cable gauges? I mean having cables of different gauges simultaneously running from an amp to two separate cabs?
The reason I ask is that it's time to pick up a couple of additional, backup cables, and the ones that I've been using for a long time don't have the gauges marked on them. I'd hate to have to throw them out simply because I'm worried that if they're not, say, 12-gauge, and the new ones are, I'm going to do some damage to the amp and/or speakers.
Thanks, tech dudes!

billfitzmaurice · #2 07-21-2011, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougjwray

Is it okay to mix speaker cable gauges?

Yes, so long as each is adequate for the load. Find that out here:

http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/spe...rassistant.swf

dougjwray · #3 07-21-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Yes, so long as each is adequate for the load. Find that out here:

http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/spe...rassistant.swf

Bill, while I really appreciate your help, I'm a techno dunce and have no idea what to do with that.
We're talking about a garden variety GK 1001RB II, running two cabs, each 8 Ohms, so a total of 4 Ohms. (That much I know.

) The cables would be different lengths for the two cabs, but both around 6 feet, give or take a couple of feet.
GK 1001RB II: 460 watts @ 8 Ohms; 700 watts @ 4 Ohms.
Thanks!

JimmyM · #4 07-21-2011, 01:14 PM

It's fine. I do it all the time.

dougjwray · #5 07-21-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It's fine. I do it all the time.

Thanks, Jimmy.
Mind you, I'm more interested in simply not frying anything, than I am in reaching audiophile nirvana.

zombywoof5050 · #6 07-21-2011, 01:37 PM

As others have stated, it shouldn't be a problem as long as the cables are sufficient to carry the current.

If I were daisy-chaining cabs in parallel, I'd try to use the thickest cable between the amp and first cab since that cable will carry more current than the one between the two cabs.

dougjwray · #7 07-21-2011, 01:40 PM

I won't be daisy-chaining; each cab has a single jack.

dougjwray · #8 07-21-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof5050

As others have stated, it shouldn't be a problem as long as the cables are sufficient to carry the current.

If I were daisy-chaining cabs in parallel, I'd try to use the thickest cable between the amp and first cab since that cable will carry more current than the one between the two cabs.

12-gauge would be sufficient, correct?

nashvillebill · #9 07-21-2011, 01:51 PM

12 ga is more than sufficient. 14 gauge would even be more than sufficient. For that short length, even 16 gauge would work fine.

zombywoof5050 · #10 07-21-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougjwray

12-gauge would be sufficient, correct?

Certainly.

nashvillebill · #11 07-21-2011, 02:00 PM

Let's assume the amp puts out 700 watts total into 4 ohms.

Each speaker, if it gets half the load, gets 350 watts. Let's be conservative and round that up to 400 watts.

The formula that relates power, current, and resistance is P = I squared times R. So P divided by R equals I squared.

So we put in 400 for P, and 8 for R....400 divided by 8...that equals 50, which is I squared. So we take the square root of 50...that is a tick over 7 amps.

The cable therefore must be capable of handling 7 amps. The distance is quite short, so we can neglect voltage drop (that wouldn't be the case if it were a 100 foot long cable, but here we're only talking a few feet). Shucks, even 18 gauge can handle 7 amps.

JimmyM · #12 07-21-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougjwray

Thanks, Jimmy.
Mind you, I'm more interested in simply not frying anything, than I am in reaching audiophile nirvana.

Ah, audiophile nirvana...then you should only buy cables that cost over $1000, and then tape a bag of $150 shiny rocks to the plug.

Don't buy into the audiophile nonsense. It's all crap. I made speaker cables out of broken extension cords and they worked as well as any speaker cable I've ever used. Instrument cables may sound different, but it's completely unrelated to how much money you spend, as I've bought the cheapest ones that look like they'll hold up to roadwork and they sound as good or better than cables costing over 5x as much.

jumbodbassman · #13 07-21-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Ah, audiophile nirvana...then you should only buy cables that cost over $1000, and then tape a bag of $150 shiny rocks to the plug.

Don't buy into the audiophile nonsense. It's all crap. I made speaker cables out of broken extension cords and they worked as well as any speaker cable I've ever used. Instrument cables may sound different, but it's completely unrelated to how much money you spend, as I've bought the cheapest ones that look like they'll hold up to roadwork and they sound as good or better than cables costing over 5x as much.

broken extension cords make great speaker cables... it's usually the jacks that break way before any cables. and keep them as short as you need lus a few few for whatever....

billfitzmaurice · #14 07-21-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougjwray

Bill, while I really appreciate your help, I'm a techno dunce and have no idea what to do with that.
We're talking about a garden variety GK 1001RB II, running two cabs, each 8 Ohms, so a total of 4 Ohms. (That much I know.

) The cables would be different lengths for the two cabs, but both around 6 feet, give or take a couple of feet.
GK 1001RB II: 460 watts @ 8 Ohms; 700 watts @ 4 Ohms.
Thanks!

Rocket science it ain't. Plug in 460 watts, 8 ohms , six feet, and even 18 ga. has only 0.08dB loss. Anything less than 1dB is inaudible.

dougjwray · #15 07-22-2011, 05:24 AM

Thanks, Bill, that helps.