EMT Pipe necessary???

[Guavamanh]

Hi, I'm setting up some outdoor speakers with monoprice CL2 wires. Do I need to cover the wire with EMT pipe? Thanks

 

[Rickster71]

No, you can use PVC, or are you asking, "Is pipe necessary at all?"
Need more details.
If it's going to be exposed or buried it should go in PVC.
EMT will get pricey with water tight fittings and unless they're done right, they won't be water tight anyway.
Is this your backyard, a commercial or multi-family dwelling?
Will the speakers be mounted on your house, or away from the house on a patio or pool?

 

[Guavamanh]

No, you can use PVC, or are you asking, "Is pipe necessary at all?"
Need more details.
If it's going to be exposed or buried it should go in PVC.
EMT will get pricey with water tight fittings and unless they're done right, they won't be water tight anyway.
Is this your backyard, a commercial or multi-family dwelling?
Will the speakers be mounted on your house, or away from the house on a patio or pool?

Thanks for the response. I guess what I'm asking is if the pipe is necessary at all. It's going to be exposed 4 conductor monoprice 14 gauge CL2 wire. Backyard, 4 speakers mounted to a single family house under an awning.

Per your response sounds like pvc is the way to go? I was quoted $300 extra if I wanted EMT pipe installed for a 200 feet run (x 4 speakers).

 

[Cruise Missile]

PVC will be fine. I fact it may be superior due to how easy it is to make water tight. Plus it's cheaper to go this way.

Now as to the wire, 200' is too far for 14ga Consider 10ga and step down to 12ga only if it won't work for your speakers/amps terminals.

 

[highfigh]

Thanks for the response. I guess what I'm asking is if the pipe is necessary at all. It's going to be exposed 4 conductor monoprice 14 gauge CL2 wire. Backyard, 4 speakers mounted to a single family house under an awning.

Per your response sounds like pvc is the way to go? I was quoted $300 extra if I wanted EMT pipe installed for a 200 feet run (x 4 speakers).

Post the layout for the amp and speakers. What is the longest run? If it's really 200', that's awfully far for speaker wire runs- the resistance alone will cost you a lot of power and response. If you can locate an amplifier closer to the speakers, you can send the audio signal to that using coax or Cat5e (with a pair of baluns) so the speaker wire runs will be a lot shorter. 14ga isn't large enough.

 

[Rickster71]

Now as to the wire, 200' is too far for 14ga Consider 10ga and step down to 12ga only if it won't work for your speakers/amps terminals.

Post the layout for the amp and speakers. What is the longest run? If it's really 200', that's awfully far for speaker wire runs- the resistance alone will cost you a lot of power and response. If you can locate an amplifier closer to the speakers, you can send the audio signal to that using coax or Cat5e (with a pair of baluns) so the speaker wire runs will be a lot shorter. 14ga isn't large enough.

Good catch guys.
I overlooked that tidbit of the run being 200'
Maybe...or hope it's a 70V system. j/k

 

[BMXTRIX]

Four speakers may be 4 50' runs, but if wiring is going to be outdoors, then it should be outdoor rated wiring so that moisture does not permeate the shield and affect the wiring.

Outdoor direct burial cable is available at a very fair price at http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com

Specifically...
http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/12ga2buca100.html

They also have a 500' roll...
http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/12ga2oxfrbus.html

I would not worry about 10 vs. 12 vs. 14 gauge unless you have top shelf speakers in a properly designed room. You simply aren't going to get that much signal loss at that distance and won't have the environment to hear any signal loss. I've got a setup I work with about 30 outdoor speakers running the wiring about 200' per run, and I think the installer was using 14 or maybe 16 gauge cabling, with no ill effects.

 

[Guavamanh]

Four speakers may be 4 50' runs, but if wiring is going to be outdoors, then it should be outdoor rated wiring so that moisture does not permeate the shield and affect the wiring.

Outdoor direct burial cable is available at a very fair price at http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com

Specifically...
http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/12ga2buca100.html

They also have a 500' roll...
http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/12ga2oxfrbus.html

I would not worry about 10 vs. 12 vs. 14 gauge unless you have top shelf speakers in a properly designed room. You simply aren't going to get that much signal loss at that distance and won't have the environment to hear any signal loss. I've got a setup I work with about 30 outdoor speakers running the wiring about 200' per run, and I think the installer was using 14 or maybe 16 gauge cabling, with no ill effects.

Thanks for the response. I was trying to simplify things in the previous post. Here are more details: basically running speaker wires through exterior wall from living room, around the house (OUTDOORS) to two zones:

Zone 2: 2 outdoor speakers (JBL http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Northridge-Weather-Resistant-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0000632G7/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305665070&sr=8-1) in outdoor patio, under and awning that is about 75 feet run (estimated as total distance considering path the wire has to run) would like to install a outdoor volume control by the sliding door.

Zone 3: 2 inwall speakers INDOORS (Infinity http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Ers-210II-Wall-6-25/dp/B0009PX4UO/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1305665150&sr=1-6) but the wires have to run OUTDOORS around the house for about 150 feet (estimated considering the path the wires have to take).

I think 14 gauge will suit my needs as these speakers are going to be used mainly in party mode for ambient music and not critical listening. My concern is more for the safety of running the wires outdoors and mounting the outdoor speaker which will be under an awning, but has the possibility of getting wet from rain/wind.

I bought this CL2 2-conductor wire from Monoprice: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023902&p_id=3845&seq=1&format=2

1) Sounds like CL2 is not enough and I should be getting the outdoor rated wires from BMX's post? If this is so I will try to return the wire and buy from his link. Really appreciate that link because they're located in Brea which is not too far away from me.

2) If i go with the wire posted by BMX, will i still need PVC or EMT piping, or is that good enough? I live in Souther California, the house is in Fullerton. We don't get snow or crazy weather out here.

3) Do I need to do take any additional precautions for the outdoor speaker wiring? I'm guessing at the very least to put electrical tape over the binding posts/wire, but I'm worried about the rain/wind.

4) Any additional issues for outdoor volume control knob? I'm running it to a Yammy Aventage A2000.

Thanks for all your help. Yesterday we got a bunch of quotes for wiring/flooring/painting/etc... as a new home owner I'm pretty low on cash right now.

The quotes from the home theatre installers were too high (~$1.5k just labor, no materials) so I'm going to be doing all this myself. My wife gave me till the end of next week to do the wiring before she sends in her crew for painting. Yes, I know.. painting is easy but we don't have time as we're both pretty much work 6-7 days a week. Thanks again guys =)

 

[BMXTRIX]

With the cable I listed, you can either bury it or leave it exposed and it won't have issues. If you read the specs on the cable it is rated for direct burial, which means no conduit is necessary. Likewise, it is UV resistant to help against sun exposure.

The JBL speakers are JBL typical. They will be fine. I have Sonance Mariner outdoor speakers under the edge of my roof (down about 20') and they have been there for 6 years now without issue.

I'm not a fan of JBL, but to each their own.

Outdoor audio, without big speakers, tends to sound pretty weak. There's just a lot more space to fill outdoors than indoors.

I would recommend the 12 gauge, which is readily available. You will need about 500' total using 12/2 or about 250' using 12/4.

 

[Guavamanh]

With the cable I listed, you can either bury it or leave it exposed and it won't have issues.

I would recommend the 12 gauge, which is readily available. You will need about 500' total using 12/2 or about 250' using 12/4.

Thanks again for responding. On a previous post you said 14 gauge would not be a problem, but on the most recent post you would recommend 12 gauge. Some guides I found online state under 200 feet run 14 gauge is ok. Cost is an issue for me, just wondering if it's going to make a big difference or not. Thanks again for the help.