Ok, by no means am I an audiophile, and I'm wiring up my first "high end" home theater system while finishing a basement... A friend gave me a spool of 12 AWG wire that he got somewhere on his job... I know it's not "speaker wire" but it is 12 gauge copper wire shielded, but I think it's used for wiring electric appliances and things of that nature... I don't know if the colors mean anything, but it's green with a thin yellow stripe winding around it. The wire is marked:
"12 AWG Type MIW or THHN or THWN or Gas and Oil Res 11 600v (something) or AWM VW .l... AlW.K ... C-UL Type T-90 Nylon or TWN 75FTI"

This is absolutely greek to me... My question is can I use this wire as speaker wire? Pro's Con's, etc. I have dumped some money into my components, so I don't want to sacrifice performance because of my wires, but if it will give me good results, I'd like to use it, at least for the shorter runs (Front L/R, center). I appreciate it!

Mike

Ok, by no means am I an audiophile, and I'm wiring up my first "high end" home theater system while finishing a basement... A friend gave me a spool of 12 AWG wire that he got somewhere on his job... I know it's not "speaker wire" but it is 12 gauge copper wire shielded, but I think it's used for wiring electric appliances and things of that nature... I don't know if the colors mean anything, but it's green with a thin yellow stripe winding around it. The wire is marked:
"12 AWG Type MIW or THHN or THWN or Gas and Oil Res 11 600v (something) or AWM VW .l... AlW.K ... C-UL Type T-90 Nylon or TWN 75FTI"

This is absolutely greek to me... My question is can I use this wire as speaker wire? Pro's Con's, etc. I have dumped some money into my components, so I don't want to sacrifice performance because of my wires, but if it will give me good results, I'd like to use it, at least for the shorter runs (Front L/R, center). I appreciate it!

Mike

Generally speaking Wire is Wire, I had a similar question a few months ago when I was able to get 100ft of SO cord for practically nothing. You should have any issues using that type of wire.

Sure, it will work fine. That's the kind of single-strand wire electricians pull through conduits in commercial construction. Twist two pieces together to make a speaker cable. Put tape or something on both ends of one of the wires before you twist them so you can keep + and - straight when you're hooking up the amp and speakers.

Well if I remember correctly that wire is rated for use when in contact with oil or gas, and wet environments. This is definitely overkill from the physical capabilities standpoint. From the electrical point of view 600 volts is much more then your amp should ever put out.

THHN is Thermoplastic High Heat resistant Nylon coated. I also think this is a little overkill. It will sound fine but it is pretty bulky stuff. Seems to me a nice flexible 12 gauge pair from Home Depot would serve your purpose and be a lot easier to connect to. The spool you have is for wiring 20 Amp circuits and connecting with wire nuts. Green wire is traditionally used for grounding applications. I would find something else.

..Doyle

Thanks for all the help... this is literally the second time I've been on the forum... so everyone is agreed that it would work, but would it sound good? Bottom line is that I have about 300 feet of it, and it will all be behind the wall... are there any limitations on how long I should run this type of wire... I'm pretty clueless to the science behind all this! THanks

Thanks for all the help... this is literally the second time I've been on the forum... so everyone is agreed that it would work, but would it sound good? Bottom line is that I have about 300 feet of it, and it will all be behind the wall... are there any limitations on how long I should run this type of wire... I'm pretty clueless to the science behind all this! THanks

No practical limitations. However, as an earlier poster said, just go to Home Depot and get some 12awg speaker wire. It is cheap and much easier to work with that the stuff you have.

Ray

and it will all be behind the wall...


That wire is not rated to be ran in the wall without being in some sort of conduit.

Not sure what you mean... It needs to be run inside of something??

Yes, wire conduit:

http://www.taillightking.com/images/Accessories/12inch_Stainless_WireConduit.jpg

Yes, wire conduit:

http://www.taillightking.com/images/Accessories/12inch_Stainless_WireConduit.jpg

No it doesn't.

If you are worried, get CL2 rated cable. Conduit is only required for exposed high voltage lines. What you are doing is neither. If you open up your wall you will see the bare power wires being strung through holes in the studs.

Do not waste your time and money on conduit.

If you open up your wall you will see the bare power wires being strung through holes in the studs.



Geez, I hope not. That sounds dangerous. ;)