My freind and I are arguing about wires. He says that the size of the wire does not matter, and I say that they number of strands inside does.

He is stuck on using this really small like 18 gauge wire because it is spiral wrapped and be thinks that the spiral wrapping makes it better than say a 14 gauge speaker wire with more strands.

Is it how the wire is spun (wrapped inside the plastic) or how many stands are inside (size of the wire)? Please tell me who is right.

 

In this particular case, size DOES matter!!

 

The more current the wire has to conduct the thicker it has to be. The number of strands is not as important as the overall size of the cable. A solid core 12awg wire will carry as much current as a stranded 12awg wire. The stranded wire will just be more flexible.

 

The higher the voltage the less noise it will pick up, noise is the reason that the strands are twisted in the casing. being twisted might help a little, but it is mainly helpful in a low level signal like through the RCA cables. The more current the cable has to carry the thicker it has to be, and number of strands that speaker wire has has nothing to do with the current.... a single solid 14 ga wire will carry the same amount of current with the same voltage drop that a multi stranded 14 ga will.

to summarize.
as long as you are not exceeding the current carrying capability larger does not matter.
Twisting might make a very small difference in noise rejection.
Number of strands doesn't matter.

 

Wire wrapped in a "spiral" inside the insulator is supposed to be better for power needs and current or something.

If not using the right size power cable, it will end up as a loss.

 

I'll describe the system and then maybe you guys can help me with the wires/ problems.

He has a 500/1 amp its a black and silver one (I think JL) and two brand new 12w6v2 subs. From the amp to the subs he is running some 14awg wires that the seller supplied. Then inside the box there is some 18 awg wire to the subs. It is my belief that the wires inside are too small for the current. He feels that because of twisting it is the same.

On a side note:
Since he has gotten them (he use to have 12w6s) he has had nothing but trouble. They have a different setup for the voice coils and no one can seem to get them wired in parallel correctly. There is a loud poping sound that was caused by wireing problems and he feels that he is better with his old 18awg wire instead of the new 14 awg wire (on the inside of the box only).

Does anyone know how to best wire those subs and what gauge wire to use. He paid to have it done after we tried it and they are unable to solve the problem. If anything the problem is worse. We made Y shaped positive and negative wires on advise from the seller (got a popping sound). The audio installer he went to did the same thing with new wires and got the same results (the popping continued). They also tried another way when we returned again and it involved changing the stock wires on the voice coils to another configuration. Currently only one sub is running off of the 500/1 amp until the parrallel wiring thing is fixed. After they messed with it, now when his windows and sunroof are up, he gets a constant rumbble (no recognizable sound) if he it below mid use. What causes that? When the windows are down it works fine. Only when the windows are up and everything is closed.

Thanks so far.

 

Size of the wire does matter. The number of strands also does matter. The currant flows on the outside of the strands. The Size of the wire is most important, but the number of strands make a difference as well.

 

This is called "skin effect" and is NOT a factor at audio frequencies. Skin effect only occurs and very high frequencies. Much MUCH higher than audio frequencies.

 

Everyone on here is not as stupid as you think they are. Everyone may not know as much as you do, but that don't mean that we are stupid. You always got some reply to try to show someone that they are wrong. I know what your talking about, but I am right also. The size of the wire is more important, AND THE NUMBER OF STRANDS DOES MAKE A DIFFERANCE.

 

When someone is dead wrong about something yet preaches it as being fact then I will point it out to them that they are in the wrong. If you can't deal with it thats your problem.

 

I agree with you on that about showing someone that they are wrong. I don't "preach" about anything, I just give an acurate statement and that's it. If I'm not sure about something then I don't reply. Why don't you inform me what I've been "preaching" about. That's not the point I was making. What I'm talking about is the way you try to show everyone when you think they are wrong. I'm not just talking about me, I've seen it with other people as well. I've seen alot of your replies and I notice that you are knowlegable. Sometimes I think you try to get too technical on some things. Which is fine for the people that can understand what your talking about. I use basic terms and simple answers so everyone can understand what I'm talking about. So getting back to the thing that started this, both of us right to a certain extent.

 

I don't correct anybody when I think they are wrong. I correct them when I KNOW they are wrong. And you were wrong regarding skin effect in a car stereo system. At frequencies below 50kHz skin effect is a non-issue. And the use of stranded or litz wire in an audio system makes it even less of an issue. If you can't handle the technical aspects then do some research and maybe you'll learn something.

 

I never said stated that I didn't know anything about the technical side of anything. I stated that sometimes that you were too technical with most of the people on here that is trying to get some answers. One thing that I do know is this is pretty stupid and immuture having this conversation with someone a thousand miles away on a computer. I don't care what people think in my everyday life. I care even less what you or anybody else out in the world think. So think what you want I'm dropping it.

 

OK...enough of the gossip

 

You didn't have to say that you didn't understand the technical side of anything. That much is apparent.

It's funny how you're the only one to say that I'm too technical. No one else has ever said a word. And if they did I'd be more than happy to try and make it a little easier to understand. Maybe it's not them or me. Maybe it's you that has the problem understanding.