Can I use indoor speaker wire outside?
While you can use indoor speakers outside, they can be damaged by the weather more easily than hardware designed for outdoor use. If you are using indoor speakers outside, be sure to bring them inside when not in use.
Can outdoor speaker wires get wet?
As long as they are covered and exposed to direct sunlight, they should be okay.
Does it matter what speaker wire you use?
When determining which wire gauge to use, consider how far away the speakers are from your amplifier or A/V receiver. Generally, for short speaker wire runs, a 16-gauge wire is sufficient. However, for longer speaker wire runs (to another room, for example), it is better to use a thicker, lower-gauge wire.
Does outdoor speaker wire need to be in conduit?
Firstly – it is imperative that any speaker wire you run to outdoor units be CL2 or CL3 certified. Therefore, when running outdoor speaker wire underground, it is strongly recommended (and in fact perhaps legally required in some cases) that you run it through electrical grade PVC conduit.
Are expensive speaker wires worth it?
An expensive cable might sound worse on your system than cheap cable. Or it might sound better. The important thing to remember is that even if it does sound better, it’s such a minuscule improvement that pretty much anything else you can do will have a greater effect on the sound.
Does speaker wire need to be in conduit?
If you are in an air space you should not need conduit. It can’t lay on ceiling tiles and needs to be suspended. The NEC codes state that a voltages over 100 volts must be in conduit, or with suitable outer sheathing.
What’s the difference between indoor and outdoor speakers?
That is, indoor speakers are designed to accommodate smaller, enclosed spaces, and outdoor speakers made to project across a broad area. It goes without saying then that the sound level or volume that these speakers can reach differs drastically.
What’s the difference between indoor and outdoor electrical wires?
Indoor wire is designed for use within the house and is not prepared to handle the external factors found outdoor such as temperature, moisture and even chemicals in some cases. Be safe and use electrical wires in the environments for which they were designed to prevent unwanted electrical hazards.
What kind of wire do you need for outdoor speakers?
Firstly – it is imperative that any speaker wire you run to outdoor units be CL2 or CL3 certified. CL2/3 wire is enclosed in a specialized sheath that will sufficiently protect it from airborne outdoor elements and also make it safe to run through walls from inside to outside (non CL2/3 wire can potentially start a fire).
Do you have to run speaker wire underground?
Therefore, when running outdoor speaker wire underground, it is strongly recommended (and in fact perhaps legally required in some cases) that you run it through electrical grade PVC conduit. It is also prudent to flag a run of underground wire to let anyone know that it’s there and where it is.