should know this, maybe have asked this here before even, but i never use it and i'm not too sure, sooo...
i saw 16/2 speaker cable [clear zip cord with the copper wire visible thru the clear insulation], the UL sticker at the bottom of the reel on this job site says Power Limited Circuit Cable...
this cant be put in walls, right? 725.71? refers to listed labeled cable to protect against fire spread... labeled on the wire... it was run thruout this new house under construction for speakers... so what can you use for speaker cables? i have seen some zip cords with tiny writing that nobody can read. is that it?

They make speaker wire that has a twisted pair in a jacket like romex. I've also seen it in 2 pair for volume controls. Home Depot in my area sells it, but I get it from a buddy of mine who does low volt only. I've seen it in 16, 14, and 12 awg stranded.

it should be one of these: CM, CL2, or CL3, and should be visible on the cable, right? 725.71, 310.11

I have been using 16-2 shielded. Some stuff they use factories shielding keeps noise out. 8 cents a foot.

Phil

Zip-cord of any size is not rated for in-wall use regardless of use, correct?

[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 05-07-2003).]

Most seriously, 10/3-G NM-B cable is four #10s for stereo speakers. [Inspector may have a cow, but it's low loss and cheap! ..and not a Code violation.]

Pigtail smaller stranded stuff on the ends. Splice in 1-gang box with 1-hole plate {or drill for 5-way binding posts} as needed.




[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 05-07-2003).]

This is a photo of the roll of speaker wire used in the walls...



cindy

i find the use of that kind of speaker wire all the time in bc canada and it has been installed very recently when i ask the home owner about it they say that a new company is installing it as prewire and and after an inspector has left who can compete with this as i need apermit to install any wire for sound, satellite, data, etc i also find it recently installed in office pa systems by so called sound contractors found in the yellow pages in vancouver bc they require ft-6 ouch

Cindy,
I don't know about the cable you have, but General Cable makes one the fits that description under their Carol Brand. See it here: http://www.generalcable.com/North_America/NorthAMCat.html and do a search for C1558 or C1458

Although this is a zipcord, be advised, this stuff is NOT cheap. It is General's answer to Monster Cable. It even has vanilla embeded in the jacket to make it smell better than the monster cable.

note:
picture above replaced to show full UL sticker.

I use Monster Cable S162 (16 awg 2)and S164 (16 awg 4) for all my own stuff it is UL RATED CL-3 and has a white jacket...Its expensive but if your going to do it charge for it and do it right, I have done a few setups and it works great. I always do home runs and try to keep in mind that for every connection you open the jacket thats a place to pick up noise. I solder and heat shrink all of my joints. Longer runs use S142 and S 144 (14 awg)

Hope this helps and again I have to say this is a great site!


The 16 is around 310.00 per 1000
The 14 is around 410.00 per 1000
Mike

[This message has been edited by mlk682 (edited 05-08-2003).]

[This message has been edited by mlk682 (edited 05-08-2003).]

to follow up... i asked my local e-inspector who said this cable wasn't acceptable siting the same code sections in 725 and 310 and referred me to an email conversation he had with a UL engineer about the same cable on another job...

"You are correct, the type designation as well as a number of additional markings (manufacturer ID, UL symbol, AWG size, Temp rating if other than 60C) should be visible on the cable surface. This marking may be in
the form of surface ink printing, indent or embossed printing. A marker tape may also be used providing it is readily visible through the jacket. If these marking are not present the cable is not listed."
"I would agree. If you are unable to confirm any of the marking I previously indicated, this particular cable is not listed for any of the applications described in article 725 of the NEC."

the cables that you guys have mentioned are the right types, some look just like the old zip cord but have the markings so they are ok. thanks