ConductivityĪ conductor is any material that allows current to pass through and is an essential element of all types of wires. There is a high risk for a short circuit or heat buildup when the size of a wire is not properly matched to the amperage of the circuit for to which it will be used for. For instance, a 10-gauge wire can only safely transmit a 30-amp current while a much thicker 2-gauge can handle up to 95 amps. Small AWG numbers are assigned to larger diameter wires and are also an indirect measure of how much current can pass through the wire safely. These are typically presented according to the American Wire Gauge (AWG) system. In electrical wires, size refers to the diameter of the metal conductor. This can be made much easier by understanding how each characteristic of the electrical cable affects its performance. What parameters affect the performance of electrical wires?ĭespite the seemingly simple principle behind their use, there are dozens of different types of electrical wires and choosing which one is appropriate for your use can be a bit overwhelming. On the other hand, shielded wires are encased by strands of conductive material to minimize electromagnetic interference and are typically for sensitive or high-voltage applications. Ribbon wires are designed for applications that require the connection of several parallel wires but are limited to low-level voltages. There are also other types of electrical wires that are used for more specialized applications. A Romex cable is made of three or more wires wrapped inside a flexible plastic jacket. These are also known as non-metallic sheathed (NM) cables. Most electrical cables used for interior wiring, which are probably the most familiar to us, are Romex cables. This is done by the use of high conductivity materials such as copper, aluminum, or stainless steel. How do they work, anyway?Įlectrical wires connect our electrical devices and appliances to a power source, creating a “bridge” for the current to pass through. The first thing to tackle is the humble electrical wire. Of course, if we’re going to completely understand the difference between speaker cables and electrical wires, we are going to have to take a back-to-basics approach. What are electrical wires and how do they work? On the subject of speaker cables, a question we often encounter is: how are speaker cables different from regular electrical cables? Can one be changed for the other? If these questions have lingered in your mind, then read on we investigate the matter. Some people are perfectly contented with hearing the audio directly from their TVs, while some may bother hooking up a speaker system but are not willing to shell out money for high-end speaker cables. However, we understand that sophisticated sound systems aren’t for everyone. With their fancy surround sound speakers complemented by subwoofers, audiophiles are willing to go the extra mile to produce high-quality and high-fidelity audio. 3D Insider is ad supported and earns money from clicks, commissions from sales, and other ways.Īudiophiles can be a finicky bunch.

4 gauge speaker wire