Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater speaker wire length

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I use 12 gauge oxygen free Soundking wire for my home theater for overkill, even though I have some short runs. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to use the same 12 gauge for my 60 foot run of some Aperion Audio speakers that I won from a contest and am mounting in the kitchen for some background music. Well, I guess I have to get some more of the heavier 12 gauge wire.

- Nick

That's odd. I had a problem with 75 ohm sub wire recently (Esoteric Audio Luminis wire) and noticed that it had a green powder I would call corrosion for lack of a better term. After I pulled the tip off, it turns out the shielding braid (copper in appearance) is covered in green powder, but the central core of copper is still nice and red - although the wire is now 10 years old. But odd none the less as it has not bee exposed to chlorine. I only knew it had a problem because it sounded bad - i.e., would not always trigger the sub on, etc. I have some pics of the green powder coming, but upload is taking a long time.

Could the salt in the air be causing a chemical reaction and forming Chlorine, or at least the Chloride could be causing the reaction?

Here is what I was talking about.

Hi JohnK,

Thanks for the chemical explanation and of course---duh, PVC, polyvinyl chloride, is where the chlorine factor comes in. I've said "PVC" for years without really thinking of the chemical composition.

So I think we can conclude that some PVC jackets become unstable and leach out chlorine, which reacts with the copper, producing the greenish color.

Regards,
Alan

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Excellent, informative post....(as always)

You only forgot one thing. You should have reminded everyone who uses this type of speaker wire (lamp cord) to be sure and buy it much longer than needed........the ends will need to be trimmed and re-stripped, many, many, many, times.

Also, my speaker wires are doing fine.

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Larry, the copper in the various types of cords(regardless of how much they cost)is equally susceptible to oxidation from atmospheric oxygen or other elements. Money can't overcome the laws of chemistry. Haven't had to clean or trim my lamp cords for a few years.