Professional Collection Manual
7
On commercial 70 volt systems, 18 gauge, 2 conductor, stranded and jacketed without
shield wire is commonly used.
In residential systems, for relatively short runs (less than 50 feet) to 8 ohm speakers, 16
gauge wire will be usually suitable.
Wire Length
Wire Gauge
System
0 -200’ (0 - 60m)
18
70V / 100V
200-500’ (60 -150m)
16
70V / 100V
Over 500’ (150m)
14
70V / 100V
Wire Length
Wire Gauge
System
0 - 50’ (0 - 15m)
16
8 Ohm
50 - 100’ (15 - 45m)
14
8 Ohm
Plan how you will route the wire to the desired speaker location. There are several methods
for routing the wire, and you may need to combine several of them.
10. Wire Routing
Under the Carpet
One option is to lift
up the carpet and route “tape wire”
under the carpet.
Behind the Baseboard
The wire can
be routed behind the baseboard by
cutting a groove out of the back of
the baseboard, or by buying special
baseboard designed for concealing
wires.
Attic or Basement
When available,
you can route the wire through an
attic or crawlspace.
Through Walls
When running wires
through a wall, be sure to avoid all
obstacles such as AC wiring, pipes,
and ducts.
For New Construction
If these speakers are being installed in a new home during
construction, the installation process will be a bit different (although much simpler). For
these situations, it is recommended you purchase a bracket. Instructions on how to install
the speakers are provided with the bracket, or can be found on our website. Visit www.
originacoustics.com for more information.
