speaker wire for shack lites?

[Creek Kid]

Looking at doing some re-wiring/upgrading this year and am leaning towards using speaker wire for the lites/computer fans. Anyone ever tired this? Also thinking about using RCA jacks for connections. They would make a single connection instead of having 2 separate wires for the hot/neutral.I realize there's lots of 12V options for this stuff but it isn't as much "fun" buying it off the shelf...

[Whoaru99]

Considering it's low voltage (assuming it's limited just to your 12V stuff) it should be fine as long as the gauge is sufficient for the load(s). Most speaker wire isn't very tough/rugged though. Might look into low voltage landscape lighting wire. Stiffer than most standard speaker wire but it's pretty tough stuff.

Dunno about using phono plugs/RCA plugs though. Sure, they'd work within some limits of current but I'd probably just stick with the standard cig lighter / 12V accessory connectors for pluggable items.

[merkman]

When working with low voltage; wire is wire... as long as it protected with the proper fuse/circuit beaker and you have the proper voltage/polarity for your devices.....there really aint much you can mess up.

As far as connectors go... keep it standard.... this gives you the most flexibility. .. you dont want to be rewiring or adapting every thing you plug into your system.

Could you wire your home with european outlets that can handle the voltage/amperage of the circuits.... sure you could.... but when you buy that nice new TV with the american plug on it you are gonna have to adapt it to make it work.

Keep it simple... there is a reason why some things are done in a standard way.

.

[Hawg]

You'll want 14 ga. I would think. It's actually a good idea as it keeps things in pairs. Be sure to get the kind that has a stripe on one of the wires just to keep them straight. If you get too many though have you thought about haw you're going to combine them all at the battery? Speaker wire will be easier than RCA's to combine.

[LakeDocktor]

Personally, I would use 16 gauge. 14 is overkill and you lose flexibility. Do a search of CL2 rated speaker wire. It is rated for in-wall applications and has an outer protective coating. Internally, the wires are again coated in corresponding (red/black) colors.

[low277]

+1 on the 16awg CL2

[Hawg]

If it's foamed in or behind walls wouldn't you want a little overkill? I sure would.

[Whoaru99]

Propwer gauge selection, of course, depends on load and length of runs and tolerance to voltage drop.

If all you're running is a couple LED lights and a computer fan then sure, 16ga is probably fine. But, things almost never stop at the inital plan so it is better to go larger now than wish you had later.

For example, on a 12V circuit, 16ga wire is good for a distance of ~7.5ft (15ft of wire counting the + and - to go 7.5ft) at 5A to stay within a 3% voltage drop. Sure, quite a few things will work withmore than 3% voltage drop but greater voltage drop is greater wasted power.

[ski_otter]

semi-related question:

I just wired my one-man Otter with a set of clam lights.

They come with 16-18 guage wire (guessing)

I spliced them to an old auto phone charger cord because its coiled and will expand + retract when I extend the shack. The phone cord is really light wire, 22, or 24 I'd guess.

Will the light wire reduce the efficiency or brightness of my lights?

Total distance from battery to farthest light by wire is < 8'

[Whoaru99]

Don't know how much power your lights use so a firm answer can't be given but based on some assumptions it's most likely OK.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I was able to get a heck of a deal on 1,000' of 16 gauge red/black speaker wire ($65). All my lights in my house use this from the power panel to the fixture. Almost everything is LED, so there is very little current. If I had regular lights, I'd have used 14 gauge.

I have heavy 10 or 12 gauge wire from the batteries to the power panel.

[Creek Kid]

Shoulda mentioned that I plan only only to run small lites and 2 computer fans on the speaker wire. They would all be on separate/switched circuits. I change out the same components between a 1 man and 3 man shacks. I would use the RCA jacks @ a main terminal in front of the battery w/fuse. I'd run a single fan & 2 lites (3 circuits) in the 1 man and a 2 fans / 3 lites (4 circuits) in the 3man. I plan on running a 12v car stereo in both but would heavy up the wire for that. I plan to run a standard 12v outlet for my flasher. Thinking about a motorcycle battery vs the vex 12v.

[Lusid]

You will be fine. I used speaker wires for my lighting applications.