Speaker cable as electricity wire.

[mztang52]

Hi there. I want to know can I use a sewell ghost or flatwire speaker cable as a electricity wire? Because they can be hidden in the wall and no need to drill my wall.

[hypnodog]

I believe you can as long as you're not pushing a lot of current.

[NinjaJc01]

Hi there. I want to know can I use a sewell ghost or flatwire speaker cable as a electricity wire? Because they can be hidden in the wall and no need to drill my wall.

Maybe not for mains electricity, but certainly for low voltage/amperage/wattage.

[Stefan1024]

The cables are made for high current but low voltage.

Look carefully for the voltage it can withstand befor you use them.

[Constantin]

All the wires are made of many thin wires inside the cable 1 thin little wire=o.3 Amp.

count them from the wire you want to use and do the math.

[MeltingPoint]

I wouldn't use it for mains voltage unless you know what the cable is rated for. Current handling of the wire should be based on it's gauge. A quick google search should give you what you need.

[mztang52]

what if I used it for electricity outlet or air conditioner point?

[FizzyFantom]

What electrical supply are you planning to hook up?

 

If you are referring to mains (230V or 120V AC) then speaker cable is inappropriate for a variety of reasons including safety.

 

If you want to run a lower voltage at a lower current such as DC power to 12V LEDs or 9V to some other device then you should probably be alright with speaker wire. Look up the gauge of your wire and check what current it can carry to see if it will work.

 

what if I used it for electricity outlet or air conditioner point?

A mains outlet? Absolutely not. You will need to get some proper mains cable with 3 wires and wire it up to a plug to make sure it is safe.

[mztang52]

What electrical supply are you planning to hook up?

If you are referring to mains (230V or 120V AC) then speaker cable is inappropriate for a variety of reasons including safety.

If you want to run a lower voltage at a lower current such as DC power to 12V LEDs or 9V to some other device then you should probably be alright with speaker wire. Look up the gauge of your wire and check what current it can carry to see if it will work.

A mains outlet? Absolutely not. You will need to get some proper mains cable with 3 wires and wire it up to a plug to make sure it is safe.

No I mean if I sub it out from a power socket as another power socket so that I no need to drill my wall and the speaker wire is 16AWG wide and it is flat.

[FizzyFantom]

No I mean if I sub it out from a power socket as another power socket so that I no need to drill my wall and the speaker wire is 16AWG wide and it is flat.

It may be able to handle the mains current, but without a proper fused, switched plug I wouldn't even touch it. Additionally it's only 2 conductors so I would definitely steer clear of using it.

 

Your best solution would be to get a proper wall socket put in near to the device you want to power an use a properly fused grounded plug.

[mztang52]

It may be able to handle the mains current, but without a proper fused, switched plug I wouldn't even touch it. Additionally it's only 2 conductors so I would definitely steer clear of using it.

 

Your best solution would be to get a proper wall socket put in near to the device you want to power an use a properly fused grounded plug.

[FizzyFantom]

-snip-

Sorry, I misunderstood what you meant by "speaker cable". Judging by that video you should be able to do this just fine. Make sure to check if you need a ground for the device and run the appropriate number of conductors.

[mztang52]

It says their cable are actually speaker cable.

[FizzyFantom]

It says their cable are actually speaker cable.

They do. I would steer clear of this method for carrying mains electricity.

 

I can't see a reason that it wouldn't work for power, but personally I wouldn't use this as a power solution.

 

Ultimately it's up to you to decide if you think it's safe.

[ThomasD]

I could see going flatwire if your wall is something truly solid like masonry block, or old plaster & lathe; situations where going into the wall is either difficult or impossible.  But, for common wallboard construction,  given what is involved in making that Flatwire cosmetically acceptable - skim coating and painting - I don't see how it is any easier or better than going into the wall and pulling cable the usual way.

[SilicateWielder]

Maybe not for mains electricity, but certainly for low voltage/amperage/wattage.

It depeonds on the wattage the cable is rated for, you don't use a 50watt wire if you're trying to drive speakers that need 300 watts.

If the gauge of your speaker wire matches the gauge of your powersupply's wire then you should be fine. According to another forum, most people are saying 18 gauge is a good gauge to use.

[.spider.]

Ground the ground is missing. Another problem is the dielectric material at higher voltages. 

[kirashi]

If your walls are solid because it's a basement or apocalypse bunker, FlatWire might be the only solution.

 

Personally, I wouldn't trust that stuff from a safety standpoint because if it ever did get overloaded and too hot... well... it's not exactly insulated.

 

The video is a poor example, as if you've got an existing outlet below the TV mount, it'd just be easier to drill holes and either move the existing outlet, or run another outlet. (assuming there's no horizontal studs in the way and everything is up to code.)

[Guest]

Do take into consideration that doing your own electrical work without it being signed off by a qualified electrician is illegal in most countries and will result in your insurance being irrelevant even if something else is found at fault in the event of a house fire or similar.