Speaker Gauge

[ParadigmDawg]

If your house burns down the insurance company can refuse to pay the damage if you dont have CL rated wire. It's not that the unrated wire caused the fire but it can spread the fire quicker.

The CL2 rated wire police arent going to come arrest you for using something other than so called "inwall" rated wire. I have yet to see anything not pass inspection that was Low voltage. Do you have any idea how many people run that cheap crap speaker wire in their walls that has the one copper and one tinned or aluminum wire?

Now days its like everybody needs protection from themselves. And boy do they get it. Getting an inwall rated wire is not as big of a deal as seems to be what everyone thinks around here. The biggest advantage to it is the extra jacket because it gives you much more protection when pulling the wire. Beyond that it doesnt really matter.

 

[Rickster71]

The CL2 rated wire police arent going to come arrest you for using something other than so called "inwall" rated wire. I have yet to see anything not pass inspection that was Low voltage. Do you have any idea how many people run that cheap crap speaker wire in their walls that has the one copper and one tinned or aluminum wire?

Now days its like everybody needs protection from themselves. And boy do they get it. Getting an inwall rated wire is not as big of a deal as seems to be what everyone thinks around here. The biggest advantage to it is the extra jacket because it gives you much more protection when pulling the wire. Beyond that it doesnt really matter.

The whole issue of 'in-wall' rated wire gets a little sticky. The NEC and other codes, like Building codes, are really all driven by the insurance industry.
So, if by chance something happens, i.e. a fire etc. the insurance companies will look for code violations, as a means to reduce their liability (as far as paying a claim) All this is to get the insured (us) to take on a percentage of the 'blame' for the fire or it's subsequent damage.

So, with that being said, I won't, in good conscience give advice that's against the NEC or could possibly harm others.
For example if the OP lived in an apartment or condo, his cheap non rated wire could harm other innocent tenants, with it's tendency to produce toxic fumes when exposed to fire.
The outer jacket on CL rated wire is for much more than just easy pulling.

 

[Haoleb]

I guess what it boils down to is people who sit in their little cubicle making up BS all day have the last word. The toxic fumes thing that is always brought up is about the stupidest thing ever. If you house is burning down or the condo next to you, I think you have bigger things to be worrying about than if the smoke from some speaker cable is toxic. As if the smoke from everything else isint.

And if the wire Inside your walls is on fire, I pretty much dont think having cl2 rated wire is going to save the rest of your house from burning down.

believe me, I know where you guys are coming from. I guess its just a shame that we are in many cases forced to pay for insurance and the company will come up with any damn excuse of loophole to get out of paying, So they make up some stupid regulation like this.

 

[mtrycrafts]

... I have yet to see anything not pass inspection that was Low voltage. .

Me neither

 

[Sparks]

Why all the "fire" talk. The speaker cable I am using is indeed rated for in-wall use.

 

[Rickster71]

The toxic fumes thing that is always brought up is about the stupidest thing ever. If you house is burning down or the condo next to you, I think you have bigger things to be worrying about than if the smoke from some speaker cable is toxic. As if the smoke from everything else isint.

And if the wire Inside your walls is on fire, I pretty much dont think having cl2 rated wire is going to save the rest of your house from burning down.

Don't mean to belabor this; but
After fifteen years as a firefighter, I can only add:
In fires, most people die in their sleep from toxic fumes and smoke, before the flames ever reach them.

So, the code wants all wire, like Romex to be rated for in wall use.
If, and when CL2 or CL3 wires over heat or burn, they give off minimal smoke and don't support combustion on their own.

 

[markw]

Why all the "fire" talk. The speaker cable I am using is indeed rated for in-wall use.

That's the only thing good about using those cables in their present aplication, which is for in-wall use. For audio use, they are woefully inadequate, which was the inital thrust of this discussion.