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Cable Size Clarification

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shagnasty View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote shagnasty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2016 at 11:02am
It will do as I made the power a constant to make the point a cable can't ever have a KW rating....
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AJ113 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AJ113 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2016 at 2:35pm
OK understood, but is there a rule for calculating the voltage without knowing the amps?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote kevinmcdonough Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2016 at 7:08pm
Originally posted by AJ113 AJ113 wrote:

OK understood, but is there a rule for calculating the voltage without knowing the amps?

hey,

the problem is two fold in that a) that music isn't a constant source, the amp output constantly varies with the music, and b) the calculation you made is really for electrical safety, in terms of yes the cable can take that amount of current and not go on fire, but what we're more concerned about is sound quality. You need much more copper than is simply electrically safe to ensure that the cable resistance isnt too high and you don't lose too much before it hits the speaker.

In general 2.5mm is regarded fine for top speakers, and most people try and go for 4mm for subs. 

For us, rather than have to deal with lots of different cable sizes we just stick to 4mm across the board. 

k
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AJ113 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2016 at 9:10pm
OK thank you - I'll check out the 4mm - does anyone have a go-to supplier of speaker cable  please ?
 
 
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csg View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote csg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2016 at 9:20pm
H07RN-F cable from suppliers like electriccable.co.uk, much much cheaper than "speaker cable"...copper is copper...
“The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better”
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote _djk_ Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2016 at 10:01pm
The main factor in selecting wire is the damping factor for the load impedance, power loss is not an issue.

Maintain a minimum damping factor of 20, include the amplifier output impedance (the inverse of the DF), the wire resistance and the connector resistance.
djk
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Steve20131 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2016 at 10:08pm
Depends on the cable lenth,  1.5mm maybe allright for 2 metres 4mm for 15m.  Do an online cable calculator on it and it will tell you how much power you lose.  Distance is the important thing and you have to add an extra bit of thickness for capacitance.  Maybe keep amps with speakers and have long signal cables,  that reduces cables weights, prices + voltage loss ??..

Edited by Steve20131 - 08 April 2016 at 10:10pm
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AJ113 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AJ113 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 April 2016 at 10:58pm
It's easy to see why powered speakers have become so popular in recent times.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Dub Specialist Sound Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 April 2016 at 12:03am

for whom not seen it.....
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shagnasty View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote shagnasty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 April 2016 at 12:06am
Originally posted by AJ113 AJ113 wrote:

It's easy to see why powered speakers have become so popular in recent times.

yes and no, powered speakers are IMHO a total PITA, running mains and signal everywhere is crap, netrik need to bring out a powercon with a TRS jack in the middle so you can run signal and power through the same connector, this is active speakers/moving lights sorted...

Personally I would sooner run speaker level than mains and signal (and data for some systems (why can't they embed the audio in the control stream Soundweb stylee?)) all over the show...

Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AJ113 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 April 2016 at 7:38am

Plus the amps often shake themselves apart in the bass units, and the cabs are so damned heavy.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AJ113 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 April 2016 at 1:36pm
So, my 4mm cable arrived today. The new problem is - it's too big for my speakon connectors.
 
I'm sure there must be a standard solution to this that most of you employ?
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