Can I dmamge my speakers doing this?

1lakerfan
1lakerfan Posts: 112
edited April 2007 in Speakers
I recently bought 12 Guage speaker wire and locking banana plugs for my Polk RTi10's (fronts) and Polk CSi5 (center) but I am using 22 guage speaker wire for my surrounds which are surround speakers that came in my old Home theatre in a box from Onkyo. In other words, I am asking is it all right to use one guage for the front speakers (12 guage) and another guage for the surruonds (22 guage) without damaging the speakers?
Post edited by 1lakerfan on
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Comments

  • JimBRICK
    JimBRICK Posts: 1,543
    edited April 2007
    that 22 gauge speaker wire is going to give you terrible connection. get some 16 guage at least
    2 CHANNEL
    Speaker - Klipsch Heresy II
    Under construction
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,093
    edited April 2007
    Shouldn't be a problem.

    22 awg is pretty damn thin though, just for practical reasons, I'd get something a bit more sturdy expecially for long runs.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • 1lakerfan
    1lakerfan Posts: 112
    edited April 2007
    I agree, but I wanted to wait until i get the polk fxi5 speaker, so it may be a while because I dont have the money right now
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited April 2007
    Home depot 12awg = 30 cents a foot. For the money it sounds pretty decent.
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  • JeffBowser
    JeffBowser Posts: 17
    edited April 2007
    I had 22 running to my surrounds for years, the wire never even got warm, although I purposely throttled the rear because of the tiny wire. Nonetheless, I re-wired to 16 guage as soon as I was able (difficult wire run). Regardless of tremendous misinformation on wire technology, it's all about guage - is the wire big enough to carry the current you are pushing ?
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited April 2007
    I'd be seriously concerned if your speaker wire EVER got warm.
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  • JeffBowser
    JeffBowser Posts: 17
    edited April 2007
    Run enought wattage through 22 guage and it will get warm, the wire resistance will be too high. I used to install custom car stereos, I've seen plenty small guage wire get warm with the oversized amps some people ran.
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited April 2007
    Come to think about it, it does make sense and I've seen it before. It's just something I've never seen in a home environment (probably because it's so easily avoided).
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  • JeffBowser
    JeffBowser Posts: 17
    edited April 2007
    Agreed. 22 guage is just plain silly if it can be avoided. 16 guage will carry all the current most people will ever need.
    michael_w wrote: »
    Come to think about it, it does make sense and I've seen it before. It's just something I've never seen in a home environment (probably because it's so easily avoided).
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