THHN or THWM as speaker wire...no conduit?

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Lazlo_Z_hollyfeld

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Hello forum,

What does NEC say about THHN ot THWM 12 ga stranded wire as speaker wire in-wall without conduit? This would be a home application not pro/industrial application. Max wattage 150. Surely, the wire can "take it," but would it be up to code? How bad an idea is this? Running conduit in an existing room would be a pain. (I got a hold of some of this wire for a song and would like to use it.)

Thanks in advance,

Laz
 
Laz, residential or not, it's not okay to do. Sure, you can do it, but you really need an in-wall-rated (i.e., CL-2 or CL-3) jacketed cable.

Professionalism is all about using the proper material in the proper way, even when it's inconvenient or more expensive.

That's what we're all about. You won't get any advice to the contrary here.
 
This thread screams DIY. How'd it even get approved? (new members new posts don't show up until a mod clears them)

In any case. Larry is right. You can't do that. Sure it would "work" but it just isn't right. Get in-wall speaker cable. Sell/give the THHN to an electrician, as you'll have no use for it as an 'A/V Nerd' working at your university's theater department. Sorry bud...
 
just use the correct wire. i seen homeowners fish THHN down the wall to make 3 way switches. in my opinion nothing is more hack than using the wrong material for the job. sorry if i offended anyone by using the term "hack"
 
Never done any theater work?

Never done any theater work?

If you have never done electrical work in a theater you need to just stop in and take a look. These guys make their own "patch" cords out of any scrap they have, they hang lights off pieces of EMT to the breaking point,etc,etc. I spent too much time doing lighting panels and the like when I first started out, even when I was new I thought it was a nightmare. The only reason the company I worked for at the time got the one job was because the fire inspector told the manager of the place he was going to stay onsite til they got a licensed EC there to actually start correcting problems. We were working across the alleyway from the stage doors. I remember making 400 patch cords of various lengths from 10-3 sj. Nothing they had in the place was grounded but the main switch gear.
 
For the record, not all of us "theatre" people work that way :)

I have defintely witnessed some scary work though. The industry has recognized it as a prevalent problem and is working to improve training and work practices. Check out http://etcp.esta.org/ if you are interested in seeing what steps the entertainment industry is taking.

Paul Beasley
 
My post refers primarily to live entertainment (stage houses, industrials, some trade shows, coprporate events, theme parks, carnivals) and motion picture studios/locations. The movie theatres themselves used to be staffed for live entertainment as well, but that is happening less and less these days.
 
pbeasley said:
My post refers primarily to live entertainment (stage houses, industrials, some trade shows, coprporate events, theme parks, carnivals) and motion picture studios/locations. The movie theatres themselves used to be staffed for live entertainment as well, but that is happening less and less these days.
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I hope you are not one of those who think these places (of assembley) are exempt from the code?????

For some reason - probably bribery - the 'theatre' guys got out of needing to be certified by the state of California to work.... And I have seen some horrifying uses for gaff tape in pretty permanent installations in many a venue.:grin:
 
Far from it, in fact I have worked with the occasional EC who wished I knew a little less. For some strange reason I don't seem to work with most of them more than once though :)

I admit to being creative with my use of gaff tape, but usually for the same thing you would use e-tape for... stopping the blood comes to the top of the list ;-)
 
Lazlo_Z_hollyfeld said:
What does NEC say about THHN ot THWM 12 ga stranded wire as speaker wire in-wall without conduit?
This would be a home application not pro/industrial application. Max wattage 150. Surely, the wire can "take it," but would it be up to code? How bad an idea is this? Running conduit in an existing room would be a pain. (I got a hold of some of this wire for a song and would like to use it.)
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NEC doesn't say anything about speaker wiring. Most of the speaker wire we run in proffessional theater and church systems is just twisted pairs of insulated stranded wires without a jacket anyway for a home installation I don't see a problem with twisting some pairs of stranded... but you should twist them like telephone wire pairs to reduce cross talk and noise.
 
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Dave,
NEC doesn't say anything about speaker wiring.
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What about Article 640?
640.1 Scope
This article covers equipment and wiring for audio signal generation, recording, processing, amplification and reproduction; distribution of sound; public address; speech input systems; temporary audio system installations; and electronic organs or other electronic musical instruments. This also includes audio systems subject to Article 517, Part VI, and Articles 518, 520, 525, and 530.
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640.9(A)(3) Other Wiring All wiring not connected to the premises wiring system or to a wiring system separately derived from the premises wiring system shall comply with Article 725.
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Don
 
Although the NEC does not permit THHN cable to be used in the manner you want, I am not sure why the NEC prohibits for say something like NM as it certainly exceeds the requirements of such applications. NM is a lot less expensive than say what the audio manufactures offer for the application and IMO out performs such specialty cable.
 
Lazlo_Z_hollyfeld said:
Hello forum,

What does NEC say about THHN ot THWM 12 ga stranded wire as speaker wire in-wall without conduit? This would be a home application not pro/industrial application. Max wattage 150. Surely, the wire can "take it," but would it be up to code? How bad an idea is this? Running conduit in an existing room would be a pain. (I got a hold of some of this wire for a song and would like to use it.)

Thanks in advance,

Laz
Click to expand...

While it's not NEC, I wouldn't do it. If I were to install any conductors that are typically used for electrical wiring, I would make sure they were installed in a manner that would be permissable for that use. I don't know about you, but I don't think I'm going to be the last person living in this house and I would not want to think that my laziness or cutting corners could reasonably pose safety problems for future owners.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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