Dedicated line: 10 gauge solid core or 8 gauge stranded


Hi everyone,

I'm having a dedicated line installed for my system. I read recommendations to run a 10 gauge wire, but I thought, why not 8 gauge? It's my understanding that there are no receptacles that would accept the thickness of a 8 gauge wire, so my question is: is it best to run a 8 gauge wire all the way to the receptacle and then bring it down to 10 gauge with a junction box to connect to the receptacle, or, just run a 10 gauge wire from panel to receptacle??
Also, the 10 gauge wire the electrician showed me was solid (just 1 thick wire), while the 8 gauge wire was stranded. Does that make a difference for sound? Which gauge would you go with?? 

Thanks!

Pierre
galpi
@galpi If you can justify it, particularly if it’s new construction (as opposed to remodel), I might try to separate out your subs from the rest of the system...unless you never listen above half your available amp power (at half amp power - not halfway on your volume control). Especially if it's going to be a long cable run from your breaker box.

If a remodel, ask your electrician to explain how much rerouting, if any, he might have to do in order to balance the 2 phases (assuming you have 2 of them), because all your system circuits will have to be on the same electrical phase in order to avoid hum. But, just adding 2 system legs onto one of your existing phases and letting it go at that will likely result in the 2 phases now being out of balance (unless you plan to add 1 or 2 non-audio legs of roughly similar amperage on the opposite phase to balance it all out)...and barring that, then you’d have to look at taking an existing breaker or two and removing them from the system-side phase and move them over to the opposite phase to balance against the amperage of your system (routine work for any electrician). He should be able to estimate that ballpark cost for you.

@gs5556 Finally found the Lowes brand of twisted 10/3 in solid core (hiding from me in plain sight), which I’m considering for an upcoming remodel. That may be all I’ve seen so far, but the price is right and (I’m supposing) I can connect the extra wire to ground along with the bare conductor and get the best noise rejection without causing any noise problems, as opposed to letting the 4th conductor remain unconnected??
@gs5556 10-2 Romex seems to flat with wires running in parallel, is there a twisted version? Same with Lowes from what I can tell ...
On the 10/3 romex, I do not use the bare copper grounding conductor; I cut it flush to the jacket at both ends. Use the red wire for grounding to the receptacle screw and the panel ground bus (don't forget to wrap the red insulation with green electrical tape in the box and panel where exposed!). In the panel, connect the ground and neutral wire as close as possible on the ground (or neutral) bus.