A Couple Wire Questions...

[EQ3282]

Short and sweet: Just moved in to a new place that has a pre-wired for surround basement. The speaker wire into the viewing room is connected from speaker wire outlet boxes where the receiver goes (so wire will be connected from the receiver to these junction boxes through a +/- hole in said outlet, then goes from there to speakers). Here are my questions:

1 - The wire coming out of these boxes have a copper and silver conductor. Thoughts on this? Better, worse, or the same as copper/copper? Any issue if I use copper/copper to connect from receiver to boxes (obviously maintaining polarity)?

2 - I was using/have 14 gauge copper/copper wire. The wire in the basement looks to be a smaller gauge (possibly 16, but more likely 18 gauge). Any issue with that combination if I don't buy new wire? Is there anything I can use to measure to find out the exact gauge?

3 - I have 8 ohm speakers/receiver. Looks like IF that wire is 18 AWG, 32 feet is about the max distance to work in. I'd say the longest distance (receiver to junction outlet to speaker) is probably around 20 to 25 feet (no more than 30). I guess I should be good, so not really a question here. Just thinking out loud to see if anyone has input on this reasoning.

Will probably have another question or two, but this is good for now. Thanks in advance!

[Hammie]

1.) Not sure if it is really a copper/silver. Many times they will do that for polarity reasons only. You should have no problem with that.

2.) There should be no problem. I wire stripper may be able to give you a general idea of thickness. They also make cards that have different wire gauge holes in them. You stick the wire in the holes until it won't fit.

3.) I usually prefer far larger gauge wires for long runs. Is it difficult to run new wire?

[EQ3282]

Thanks for the response. I assumed that about the copper/'silver' wire, but wanted to be sure.

Are you suggesting running something like 14 gauge or so throughout? I believe it could be done with not a ton of extra effort (just a matter of re-connecting at junction boxes, as none of the wire runs behind drywall). However, I'd rather keep costs as low as I can, and would hate to have to buy new wire knowing its already wired (especially the more expensive 12 or 14 AWG).

With that said, the bare wire ends for center and fronts may have gotten wet during a basement flooding episode. They have long-since dried. Think they're OK to use still, or should they be replaced?

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by EQ3282

Thanks for the response. I assumed that about the copper/'silver' wire, but wanted to be sure.

Are you suggesting running something like 14 gauge or so throughout? I believe it could be done with not a ton of extra effort (just a matter of re-connecting at junction boxes, as none of the wire runs behind drywall). However, I'd rather keep costs as low as I can, and would hate to have to buy new wire knowing its already wired (especially the more expensive 12 or 14 AWG).

With that said, the bare wire ends for center and fronts may have gotten wet during a basement flooding episode. They have long-since dried. Think they're OK to use still, or should they be replaced?

You can get 100ft of 12 gauge speaker wire for about $25 from Monoprice and 14AWG speaker wire is $17 at Monoprice.

You should be okay. I would just be concerned that water got into the insulation and started to corrode it.