Cables and Home Depot...

**VWDash** · 12-24-2005, 02:16 PM

Ok let me put on my anti flame and noob suit.

So I went to home depot to buy a ton of 10 gauge. I get the first associate I see and tell them hey im building a carPc need to run wire in my car need 10 gauge. The Home Depot guy tells me this cable wont work i need to go to an autoshop to buy special cable. Hmm I thought hey its all copper wrapped in plastic that guy didnt know what he was talking about, let me get someone else. I get the next associate he tells me to go to a marine shop to buy low voltage cable. So what the hell.... can someone tell me if such a thing is real.... and if it is, is there a difference between the cables?? Feel free to flame away....

**Daley** · 12-24-2005, 02:24 PM

From a purist's standpoint, the finer the strands, the better the electrons will flow. Will you notice? NO. Does it matter? NO. But the bottom line (and your answer) is that you should look for something that's at least somewhat flexible. Sure, a chunk of 12 AWG Romex would do it, but it won't be very easy to work with - that's the reason for stranded vs. solid. The stranded stuff is more flexible. The HD associates you spoke with most likely heard something somewhere and in an effort to be helpful, they tried to steer you away. Go ahead and get your ~15 feet of stranded copper wire from Home Depot and get on with the install, and have a nice day

**The unL33T** · 12-24-2005, 02:42 PM

Yeah I went there to buy some 0 guage (which they don't carry btw, largest they have is 4) and the guy basically said that the stuff they had wouldn't work in a car because it isnt flexible enough (not very many strands) so all the vibrations in a car would cause it to break. I realize that it's not exactly high quality stuff but I found it strange that they were reluctant to sell me the stuff...

**alti** · 12-24-2005, 02:48 PM

It is also not insulated nearly enough.

find a piece of 4 gauge car audio cable and compare it to a peice of home depot cable. they are not even close.

If the little insulation fails, you better hope it is fused and the fuse pops, or bye-bye car.

It also may cause noise in the speakers.

**3g Jester** · 12-24-2005, 02:57 PM

i just bought a bunch of cable from them

damn douchbags. now im worried.

**Bugbyte** · 12-24-2005, 03:54 PM

I bought 6 gauge stranded from Home Depot and I'm using it to run my install. Seems to work fine.

**Vinister** · 12-24-2005, 04:42 PM

whats the matter the only store around is a home depot?

Come on... nobody wants an install with home wiring. Crimp connections will fall apart with solid-core wiring, it doesnt bend, and it will break when vibrated or bent around too much. Go to a car stereo store and get some real wiring! You can get scraps for free and the best stuff doesnt even cost that much.

Don't you guys have any car shops? Any car battery shops? Even marine shops... anything but home depot. Sheesh what would the world come to without home depot....

**xdjxklusivex** · 12-24-2005, 05:21 PM

do it the right way the first time go buy car audio amp install cable :-) home depot = home **** not car **** ;-)

**racerx3165** · 12-24-2005, 07:03 PM

Thats why i love my Job "Electrician" i know a bit about wire and i use/buy it everyday so just like everyone said the Home dDepot wiring will work and yes #10 is #10 but the insullation is allot different. THHN is made for use in houses and residential where it wont be disturbed, and not in autos

But i did use some well pump motor wire for my 12's it was #8 and alot of strands i think it was TWP

**reiner15** · 12-24-2005, 08:10 PM

the only sort of wiring that you should use from Home Depot is welding wire. Many people use it as a solid and dependable amp wiring. If you're running speaker wire though... go find a nice local shop or get it online.