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Instrument cable as speaker cable

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#8
A speaker cable has two dedicated wires inside.

An instrument cable has ONE wire inside, with a thin foil-like wrapper for shielding. Some have a webbing of very thin, fine wire instead of the foil-like wrapper. Regardless, the shielding is not meant to carry speaker-level voltages.

The problem is that if you use an instrument cable as a speaker cable, the power running through it can easily MELT the shielding causing a short to your amp, essentially "frying" it.

Bad stuff. Stop using the instrument cable as a speaker cable immediately.
 
#10
Eric Moesle said:
An instrument cable has ONE wire inside, with a thin foil-like wrapper for shielding.
Click to expand...

Foil is a poor shield for instrument cables. It begins to make cracking noises in this application after repeated flexure. Good instrument cables typically use braided wire, the better ones having 95% rejection. Foil is used more in pro patch cables with various connectors where performance movement is not an issue.

Speaker cables can be as simples as side-by-side "zip" cable and even 16-gauge lamp wire gets the job done for shorter runs. As you get into pro speaker cable the gauges get larger for longer runs (though a lot of people waste it in short runs), and can have additional fill and round jacketing for enhanced durability.
 
#11
Langueta said:
I will stop.
But I think that it`s not true that if you use instrument cable as speaker cable you will damage your amp....the possibilities of damaging it are very low
Click to expand...

Oh. We thought you were the one asking ; }

Actually there sometimes is damage, BTW. And it is not so efficient for the job in the meantime.
 
#12
Right tool for the job. Purchase a speaker cable, please. It will cost much, much less than repairing or replacing your amp.

Most of the widely available speaker cables have "speaker Cable" imprinted right on them so there is no confusion.

I have no brand preference, but the heavier the gauge, the better. Make sure it's long enough, but no longer than you need to get the job done since their cost goes up with length.
 
#14
Is your stuff messed up?

If not, then it's not damaged.

-don't fix it if it aint broke- ;)

What you really should probably fix, though is your issue of not using a speaker cable. :D

My guitarist has gotten away with using an instrument cable with his Orange amp for a long time but I'd imagine like on everything else it is a much different story for guitar than bass.
 
#15
greenboy said:
As you get into pro speaker cable the gauges get larger for longer runs (though a lot of people waste it in short runs), and can have additional fill and round jacketing for enhanced durability.
Click to expand...

Rep.

...BTW, Langueta, in the US at least, you can go to a lot of hardware stores and get suitable wire of both the zip and round jacket variety. For most short runs I use 14 gauge for its durability and ease of working with connectors. 12 really isn't needed until you get into longer runs like for PA applications. This, coming from a guy that uses some very powerful amps and doesn't wish to squander wattage.
 
#17
If it was working last time you used the amp then it's probably still OK. It may be OK to use instrument leads at low volumes, but why risk it? You could even use mains rated twin core if you really want to go cheap. You've received good advice in this thread already. End of story?
 
#18
heath_r_91 said:
My guitarist has gotten away with using an instrument cable with his Orange amp for a long time
Click to expand...

These are the kinds of things that separate the men from the boys, as far as I'm concerned. It's not like a proper speaker cable is that hard to find, or costs that much more (if any) than an instrument cable of equivalent length and quality. There's really no excuse for not using the right tool for the job on things like this.

Of course with a SpeakOn situation you don't even have the option to screw this up...
 
#19
Many - perhaps most - instrument cables have a center conductor that is 22 gauge or smaller. 22 gauge conductor is rated for a maximum current of 0.92 amps. If you are driving a speaker with a DC resistance of 4 ohms, the rated power limit is therefore 0.92 x 0.92 x 4 = about 3.4 watts. If you are driving a speaker with a DC resistance of 8 ohms, the rated power limit is 6.8 watts.

Does your amplifier put out less than 7 watts? Great! Wait...you say your amplifier puts out 140 watts? Gee, if you are driving an 8 ohm load, that means you are only exceeding the rated capacity of that instrument cable BY A FACTOR OF 20!

To that I can only say: http://www.moviewavs.com/0085412111/WAVS/TV_Shows/Lost_In_Space/dangw.wav
 
#20
He he. I messed up an amp recently this way.

My guitarist has an old Carvin PB500 head that I was using. I didn't know that he had it hooked to the cab with an instrument cord. :rollno:
It started getting all distorted and screechy.:D

Fortunately, I looked into the back, saw what sort of cord it was, replaced it with a speaker cable into a different channel and it worked fine. The other power section of the amp is likely messed up though.

I guess Speakons are a good cure for assumptions too.
 
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