In wall power cabling advice

NZS

New Member
Jan 27, 2023
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Hello to all,

This is my first post on your site, after being recommended from another audio site I am registered with, that there may be some people on here with knowledge of in wall wiring.
Emailing cable manufactures and searching on the internet, I haven't being having much luck with information in regard to in wall power wiring as opposed to front of wall power, which is well resourced

The 2 links below had been recommended with helpful knowledge, but doesn't delve into the cables as such.
Electrical System Optimization - Shunyata Research 6

The choice for a mains cable type has unearthed more choices than I expected.

Here, the standard building compliant 240 volt residential mains cable is 7 strand but can be sourced in 3 or up to around 50+ strands.
Does the amount of strands on a 6mm (9 AWG) cable for audio matter?
Does more or less strands have any advantages or disadvantages?

Cable sheath material for in wall cabling?
Advantages/disadvantages in this use?

I will retro fit 2 dedicated mains cables of equal length with a run of approx. 8 metres (24-25') and will keep these apart as much as possible

I could be over thinking this and the various types of in wall mains cable construction choices may or may not make much difference, hence why I can’t find much information.

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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Welcome to WBF, NZS!
 

sbnx

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Mar 28, 2017
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What gauge wire is the gigawatt?
 

MarkusBarkus

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Feb 6, 2021
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I could be over thinking this
...over thinking audio, is a WBF speciality! Firstly, I would emphasize adhering to local building codes regarding cable safety specs.

Regarding number of strands, and I assume the numbers you cited is per conductor, I would stay away from the very lower end (you noted 3 was an option) as it will be very stiff, and challenging to run and "land" or manage in your receptacle box.

For example, I have a dedicated 10 gauge (US) line which is 19 strand, and a dedicated 6 gauge line which I believe is also 19 strand. Good Luck!
 

MarkusBarkus

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Feb 6, 2021
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...so that is 12 gauge in non-metric terms. Many would make a case that 12 gauge is adequate for audio gear, however, a larger gauge would provide lower impedance and less voltage drop over 8m/25' run. That's not a long run, but it's not short either. The power requirements of your gear would also be relevant.
 

Tubeman66

Well-Known Member
Mar 31, 2019
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Hello to all,

This is my first post on your site, after being recommended from another audio site I am registered with, that there may be some people on here with knowledge of in wall wiring.
Emailing cable manufactures and searching on the internet, I haven't being having much luck with information in regard to in wall power wiring as opposed to front of wall power, which is well resourced

The 2 links below had been recommended with helpful knowledge, but doesn't delve into the cables as such.
Electrical System Optimization - Shunyata Research 6

The choice for a mains cable type has unearthed more choices than I expected.

Here, the standard building compliant 240 volt residential mains cable is 7 strand but can be sourced in 3 or up to around 50+ strands.
Does the amount of strands on a 6mm (9 AWG) cable for audio matter?
Does more or less strands have any advantages or disadvantages?

Cable sheath material for in wall cabling?
Advantages/disadvantages in this use?

I will retro fit 2 dedicated mains cables of equal length with a run of approx. 8 metres (24-25') and will keep these apart as much as possible

I could be over thinking this and the various types of in wall mains cable construction choices may or may not make much difference, hence why I can’t find much information.

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks.
by the way are you living in Europe or ?
 

NZS

New Member
Jan 27, 2023
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10
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by the way are you living in Europe or ?
Hello Tubeman66 and thank you for the replies.

I live in New Zealand.
The choices for audio equipment and accessories are limited here as opposed to other places like North America and Europe.

The Gigawatt cable is not sold here although we do have Lapp/Olflex and Belden.
Current Compliance for both Building regulations and Insurance will have to take precedence.
 
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NZS

New Member
Jan 27, 2023
20
10
3
62
...so that is 12 gauge in non-metric terms. Many would make a case that 12 gauge is adequate for audio gear, however, a larger gauge would provide lower impedance and less voltage drop over 8m/25' run. That's not a long run, but it's not short either. The power requirements of your gear would also be relevant.
Hello MarkusBarkus.

Thank you for your replies.
The strands are stated per core mostly. Three strand cable are still relatively flexible in the standard flat tape cable, i.e. 3 x cores side by side wrapped in PVC.
A single core might be a bit more problematic in this retro cable run.

I was looking at it from a perspective of if the amount of strands impart a different characteristics on sound?
Is less strands better suited to an amplifier and more strands to digital components or vice versa?
Does more strands have a tenancy for less line noise?
Does the sheafing (as basic as interior to exterior type sheaf materials) have an influence on the copper and power in the cabling in an audio situation?

Again maybe over thinking it.
 

MarkusBarkus

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2021
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Hi @NZS
Yes, sir I get the thrust of your enquiry re: sound quality per strand type/amount. The #6 ga. cable I used comes from the fella who makes the TT7 power unit, just as a reference re: strand count.

Maybe we can pull @Kingrex into this, as he is highly knowledgeable and always has an opinion. I think he may favor solid wire runs these days.

As you noted, code compliance/safety is Job1. Which I think will mean the set of options will be limited. As I recall, Rex is even listening/checking for directionality in his cable runs. Record and post your electrician's response when you tell him that!
 
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NZS

New Member
Jan 27, 2023
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the gigawatt wire is excellent - all my dedicated lines come off dedicated sub boards with Gigawatt breakers and then gigawatt wire to the wall plug
Thank you pweg for the endorsement of the Gigawatt products but presently it's not an option here for back of wall, only front of wall.
Interestedly the cable cores are all 4mm (11 Awg) and here the standard for the earth core is 2.5mm (13 Awg).
The breakers have had favourable reviews.
 

Holmz

Active Member
Apr 19, 2022
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<…>

I was looking at it from a perspective of if the amount of strands impart a different characteristics on sound?
Is less strands better suited to an amplifier and more strands to digital components or vice versa?
Does more strands have a tenancy for less line noise?
Does the sheafing (as basic as interior to exterior type sheaf materials) have an influence on the copper and power in the cabling in an audio situation?
Cuzzy-Bro - were are across the ditch from one another…

I could sort of believe it for a “Switch Mode Power Supply” (SMPS).
But most gear has a power supply with capacitors and stores the energy as DC.

Certainly with experience running some tube amps I am always impressed with the music playing for 10 seconds after the power is cut.
If the device has a transformer, then the neutral and hot side are generating the DC relative to either the neutral or a transformer center tap… so it seems unlikely that after going from (assuming) the hydro of NZ to the house… that one can pick up a lot benefit with the cables in the wall.

What happens on the ground could be different, and it might be possible for low impedance cables and power cords to sink the nuetral and ground with more bandwidth. In that case more small wires have more surface area… and should have performance out to the MHz or further. At least in theory. Dunno if it is ever needed though.


Again maybe over thinking it.
…..
You might be correct. ;)

Many people change cabling and find a difference.
But also people that replace receptacles with high grip ones, and clean off the decades of corrosion get similar gains.
I could believe that corrosion could be worse in coastal areas and maybe worse for more small wires?


I will retro fit 2 dedicated mains cables of equal length with a run of approx. 8 metres (24-25') and will keep these apart as much as possible
I don’t know…
- Apart would help to not induce voltages in the other set.
- But together would minimise an coil for magnetic fields to couple in.

Most of the stuff here is not twisted, like the flat white jacketed cabling.
The round orange stuff (Maybe Clipsal) might be somewhat wound???, so I would probably have that run If they were close together.

The modest priced “grippy outlet” is not a bad idea.

And I am not sure if there are things to slow down corrosion. The sparkies just seem to twist the ends up, and bung em straight into the receptical.
 

Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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I have done a pretty extensive test of behind the wall wires that are legal in the US and Canada. Europe and Asia have other options.

I need to update stranded wire on my site. DDK pushes it. Peter put it in. I just tried a batch with my Audion SET845 amp and it will lay down brittle or hard edges. I would recommend it pulled in a pipe for horn systems. I like solid core wire for most other type systems. You need to be aware what your powering.

And wire is only a piece of the game. This is what an electrician did for a custom Boulder/Magico installation. This is all wrong on so many levels. I was there to remove and rebuild it all.
 

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Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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When I left it was looking more like this.
 

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Salectric

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2012
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@Kingrex
What wire do you recommend for in-wall wiring? I am getting ready to add some outlets along one wall of my music room which will require about 12’ of wire all linked to an existing outlet on a dedicated line. Fortunately the back side of this wall is open (no drywall) so I have easy access.
 
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