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Topic: Speaker cable size recommended?

Amanda Mundin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 122
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Registered: Sep 2005

posted 05-18-2006 01:36 PM

I have read on here about using stranded wire in twisted pairs but what size wire would anyone recommend using?
Our auditorium is 40feet long

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Richard May
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1057
From: Floral Park, NY USA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted 05-18-2006 02:12 PM

How long will the actual speaker run be and how much power for the speakers?

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Amanda Mundin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 122
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Registered: Sep 2005

posted 05-18-2006 02:41 PM

Maximum cable length should be 65feet I imagine, maybe less,
I think stage speakers will need no more than 250watts of continuous power, and subwoofer will need no more than 1200watts continuous, although that may be split into two wires to power two separate 18" subs depending on final sub choice

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Marin Zorica
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 671
From: Biograd na Moru, Croatia
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-18-2006 04:01 PM

Put 4mm2 (sqare milimeters) for L, C, R speakers, 2,5mm2 for surrounds and 6mm2 for Subwoofer.

You can use twisted pairs for L, C, R, Sw and two-wire cable for surrounds.

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Pete Naples
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1565
From: Dunfermline, Scotland
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 05-18-2006 04:37 PM

Sounds about right!

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-18-2006 08:27 PM

Does any one have a translation chart between the metric wire size and AWG sizes

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 05-18-2006 08:45 PM

quote: Gordon McLeod
Does any one have a translation chart between the metric wire size and AWG sizes

Some conversion charts:

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

quote:
The following chart is a guideline of ampacity or copper wire current carrying capacity following the Handbook of Electronic Tables and Formulas for American Wire Gauge. As you might guess, the rated ampacities are just a rule of thumb. In careful engineering the insulation temperature limit, thickness, thermal conductivity, and air convection and temperature should all be taken into account.

http://www.mogami.com/e/cad/wire-gauge.html

quote:
Ordinary, next two gauging systems are used with electrical wire and cables.
AWG (American Wire Gauge)
It is known as BS (Brown & Sharp wire gauge). The AWG guging system is defined as geometrical progression because of drawing machanism nature. The 36 AWG is defined as 5 mil diameter, and the 4/0 AWG is defined as 460 mil diameter. (See ASTM B 258)
mil
represents diameter of solid wire in mil (1/1000 inch) or cross-sectional area in circular mil.
milimeter wire gaging system
represents diameter of solid wire in mm or cross-sectional area of stranded wire in mm^2 (square mm).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge

quote:
The table below shows various data including both the resistance of the various wire gauges and the allowable current (ampacity) based on plastic insulation. The diameter information in the table applies to solid wires.

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Bruce Hansen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 847
From: Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 05-19-2006 05:46 PM

If I am correctly working the converter at: http://www.mogami.com/e/cad/wire-gauge.html

2.5mm2 = 14 AWG
4mm2 = 12 AWG
6mm2 = 10 AWG

This should help we Americans that are not used to dealing with mm2. "Square mm? The wire looks round to me."

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Phil Hill
I love my cootie bug

Posts: 7595
From: Hollywood, CA USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 05-19-2006 06:18 PM

Ya know Amanda, looking at all your posts here on Film-Tech...it's like you are free-loading and taking unfair advantage of all the FT expert's knowledge.

Perhaps YOU should HIRE a REAL theatre designer and PAY them for their knowledge rather than pestering all with your never-ending theatre design questions.

While myself and many others here are willing to help out people, there is a limit when it becomes abusive.

Pony up the money for a real designer!

Just my 2-cents...

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Marin Zorica
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 671
From: Biograd na Moru, Croatia
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-20-2006 01:48 AM

quote: Phil Hill
While myself and many others here are willing to help out people, there is a limit when it becomes abusive.

I think isn't abusive at all! And everybody can ask all kind of questions. So if somebody will have answer he will put it in post replay, and opposite!

It's good to put questions like this, specially because is some small cinema, and is good for knowledge to learn something new to people which is get around cinema for first time.

P.S. Maybee Amanda gonna invite us to premiere opening of cinema! [thumbsup]

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 05-20-2006 04:25 AM

The occasional question to help someone out of trouble or to better understand a concept is fine. We chat here, we foster relationships, we give and take.

If someone is constantly taking, however, or otherwise using the forum as a way to circumvent hiring an engineer, I agree this would be abusing the privilege.

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Warren Smyth
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 158
From: Auckland ,New Zealand
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 05-20-2006 10:01 AM

It would be sad if anyone felt inhibited asking questions simply because of some members' assumptions that the service industry may be undermined. The acquisition of knowledge is a legitimate function of any forum. The reason for that acquisition is the rightful business of the questioner.

Keep asking the questions Amanda for in so doing, you raise issues that are of interest and value to many. Any alternative, and it is the forum that risks being undermined.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-20-2006 12:47 PM

There are two sides to the aurgument
no one has ever sujested stopping asking question or advice being given but also if it appears that someone is collecting free information to circumvent the hireing of a qualified engineer to design a system then they have a right to be concerned
often there are questions that need awnsering to qualify the original asked question which is part of the service that a design engineer does

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 05-20-2006 12:55 PM

Gordon summed that one up pretty nice.

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Richard May
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1057
From: Floral Park, NY USA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted 05-20-2006 12:58 PM

If someone want to put a theater together by themselves, what is the problem? If people don't like all the questions, they dont have to answer. I thought this site was to help people. I didnt know there was a limit to the information given.

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