[jmcomp124]

I have all the required ingredients to build Jon Risch's DIY speaker cables and recently decided to run them in the crawl space to go across the living room (from amp to speaker) for the frontl left speaker.

For SBL, SBR and SL speakers, I am thinking of the Home Depot 12Guage speaker wire. The crawl space has insulation. Is it safe to run these wires in the crawl space ? Any precautions or hints ?

Thanks,

-Jai

 

[jmcomp124]

Anyone ?

 

[nhparrot]

If you are have rodents in the crawl space, I would run the wire in conduit. I would also make sure it is CL-3 rated.

 

[ssabin]

Depending on the rodent and the conduit, that isn't a bulletproof solution.


The CL-2/Cl-3 rating assures that the wire meets National Electrical Code requirements, and is really only needed in a "permanent" installation. This rating is NOT given to cheap, "zip cord" types of wire generally because of the toxicity of the vapors produced from the insulation if it burns.


I personally would suggest low-voltage landscape lighting wire. It is made to withstand wet conditions, provides a good protection against copper oxidation, and is economical. More robust and perhaps even cheaper than plain 12 ga Home Depot speaker wire.

 

[apg]

FWIW, rodents don't seem to like the taste or texture of Teflon insulated wire; you could always buy a spool and make your own twisted-pair.

 

[gotapex]

The stuff from parts express is $19 for a 100' spool of CL rated 12 gauge.