Gauge of Speaker Wire

[sandm]

For the best possible electrical connection, solder the bare wires to the speaker terminals.

x2

[mmandley]

I have a stereo wire question. Just added a light-bar and a power/block next to the amp and speaker wires. Now I have engine whine coming through the speakers. Is there a way to fix this without rewiring the lights and or moving the power block?? Jet

here I am dusty..

Ok this is a little tricky as im trying to picture exactly what you did here.

Now are you positive you didnt have whine before the new upgrade?

Steps to try

Make sure the Stereo is grounded at the battery terminal not a ground block, also make sure the amps are grounded to the battery as well. If you are using a distro block for the amps it needs to be grounded directly to the battery.

If this is all done and you still have whine then you will have to disconnect the upgrades to see if thats truly causing the whine.

The main point is anything you add needed to have a solid ground and thats hard in a boat and normaly stereo whine is actualy due to the sterio ground not the added upgrades grounds.

[cab13367]

stereo whine is actualy due to the sterio ground not the added upgrades grounds.

Mike is exactly right - I picked up a stereo whine somewhere along the way when I upgraded my stereo and as soon as I grounded the head unit directly to the battery instead of the distribution block under the dash, the whine went away.

[KG's Supra24]

In an attempt to recycle some of the used materials, i was considering using the 24 awg I'm pulling out of the tower to run power and ground to LED lights.

Is 24 awg heavy enough to run LED lights? Most likely a flex strip or two. Based on my rationale (pulls WAY less wattage than speaker did), it should be plenty, but of course there is something I might be missing.

[EarmarkMarine]

Right, LEDs pull very little current so a limited number of LEDs over a limited distance should be fine with 24 gauge. But, do this surefire check: Run two strips side by side with one having a short lead wire and the other having the longer anticipated length of wire. If you see no difference in brightness then you know for sure the wire is sufficient. If one is dimmer then you know to upgrade to say 18 gauge which would be the maximum needed for any length and quantity applicable to a towboat.

David
Earmark Marine