Wiring the back yard.

Skynut

We are finally doing work in the backyard and I am putting in KLH speaker rocks.
I have conduit running across the backyard and want to put speaker wire in it.
The run will be around 200 feet from the receiver to the speakers.
They are 100wpc@8 ohms and I was planning to use 10guage wire.

Is this big enough?

I need to run all speaker wires through the same conduit so they should be sheilded right?

Does anyone know a good sheilded speaker wire in 200+ foot lengths?

I am also planning to connect my 4 systems together with low level inputs. I want to send a signal from the main house system to all other receivers so all can play the same thing.

What size wire should I use for this?
I was thinking about a single run of something like phone line.
Bad idea?
Any suggestions?

I also need to run this line in with the speaker wire or inside another conduit with power wires in it.

Thanks in advance for the input.

Skynut

Beuller, Beuller

HBombToo

I think 10 guage is fine for the long run but am not sure as to what type. I don't think using phone line will be a good idea on low level due to loss.

To daisy chain your systems together a more elegant approach may be with TOS links... Just thinking and typing out loud her.

HBomb

Skynut

I need to run something underground so I can get a left and right signal to my shed. I am fine with pulling individual wires but I m worried about interference if they run with my speaker wires on part of their journey.
I also do not know what gauge I should use.

I do not have a toslink input in my shed, just an old Kenwood receiver.

I may run the signal wires to the shed and power the yard speakers from there.

bvette94

I would advise against running the speaker wires in the same conduit as the electric. Also You might want to think about grounding in case of lightning strikes. In the slight case it takes a lightning hit it has to go to ground somewhere and will most likely fry electronics along the way.

amulford

Keep the speaker and signal seperate from power(but you can run them together if need be). For ambient music, I'd use low voltage direct burial. 10 Ga. would be fine. Make the signal line your self from good coax, like some RG6 , also DB, but you might need to boost the line signal a little.

unc2701

for those long runs look into a "balun" for that l&r signal. usually you can do 500+ feet using CAT5 without major signal loss. Will it be like some $500 IC's? Hell no, but it'll get the job done.

Skynut

So I can use coax like my cable company uses?
I found some real nice quad sheild at Home depot I can get.
So I can use this and run it to a plate with rca plugs comming out?
And I can run it in the same conduit as the speaker wires?
Power is going to be in another conduit.

I guess I will go get a spool of the coax.

This is going to be nice to have the whole house wired together.

I will definitely ground everything properly.

RuSsMaN

Use some low voltage power cable, or hack up an outdoor extension cord.

Keep it away from power lines, as stated.

Skynut

I don't mind buying wirebut I am not sure what guage to use.
I already have some of the 10g speaker wire but I am not sure it will fit in the conduit with two runs of rg6.
If it does not then I need to figure out what to use for the left/right signal.
I can run loose wires all the way if need be 10g for the speakers and ??g for the signal.
I just do not know what guage to buy if I need it.
I like the coax idea and I plan to check the fit today.

unc2701

RG6 Quad shield direct burial should work fine. put it though a ground block (like what you use for direct TV) at the house, 'cause you never know...

yep. either solder on RCA's or crimp/screw on an F then use a F-rca adapter

same conduit as speaker wire is fine or if you buy direct burial, just put it right in the ground like the cable co.

unc2701

Oh and Zach aka okiepolkie can get you 12 guage direct burial speaker wire- no conduit needed. Unshielded, but how good is an outdoor system going to sound anyway?

amulford

Skynut wrote:

I don't mind buying wirebut I am not sure what guage to use.
I already have some of the 10g speaker wire but I am not sure it will fit in the conduit with two runs of rg6.
If it does not then I need to figure out what to use for the left/right signal.
I can run loose wires all the way if need be 10g for the speakers and ??g for the signal.
I just do not know what guage to buy if I need it.
I like the coax idea and I plan to check the fit today.

For power, it depends on the amperage and the run, if it's going to be under 100' and 20 A then go with 3 (Black, White and green)- 10 Ga. wires in a 3/4" conduit. it's a little oversized, but that's OK. Future...

For speaker, get some 10 Ga. low voltage from HD, too. You don't need to run this in a conduit, if you don't want to.

For signal, get the DB RG6. same deal as above. If you decide to run it in conduit, along with the speaker, just get 1" conduit. It'll fit.

BTW - get PVC conduit and glue it. don't use the blue stuff from HD, it will allow alot of water in. And keep them seperated a little. dig the trench around 12" and lay the power first, then the signal like at 6". That way you don't hit it if you aerate the grass.

Have fun. If you need some more guidance, PM me with a phone #, and I'll give you a call...

Skynut

I already ran grey sched 40 pvc 3/4 inch for signal and 1" for power.

I used the blue glue. You say that will not seal?
They used it for all the water lines in the back.

I was thinking about using 16/4 wire for the left right signal instead of coax but I won't be buying it till I need it. Maybe 4 weeks or more.

I may pm you then with some questions.

Thanks

unc2701

I think he was talking about the blue conduit from HD it's not water tight. the greenish blue PVC glue will work fine for sealing the conduit.

amulford

Yes^