Looking for a way to run speaker wire along an outside pool enclosure. I thought of conduit of some sort, PVC pipe etc....but I just do not think it would look good. I was searching on Amazon and found Ghost wire. It is essentially flat wire that comes to a transition point and can connect into normal round wire once connected to the speaker. Anyone heard of this or use it...seems like it has great reviews
Anyone ever heard of ghost wire?
- Thread starter Dhos1
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
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- Pool Size
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- Chlorine
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- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Are you thinking of running the Ghost Wire outside or inside?
If outside my concern would be the sheathing is not outdoor rated and will deteriorate.
If outside my concern would be the sheathing is not outdoor rated and will deteriorate.
I think you can use outdoor rated landscape wire as speaker wire. It is essentially the same thing.
matthewsunshineflorida
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- Sep 28, 2018
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- Chlorine
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- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Yea that wire is only 16 gauge and definitely isn't rated for outdoor so you're just going to have a lot of issues with it over time. Get 12ga landscape wire. It has almost 3x less resistance than 16ga, comes in black, is already rated for outdoor and direct burial, and will save you a ton of money. I wired all of our speakers with this ($90 for 250ft):
So here's the basis of this.....I appreciate the comments though. However, I am looking actually for something neat to run my wire in and around my Lanai/pool enclosure. I was thinking the ghost wire because it is flat and I can run it along the rail and you will not be able to see it. I need to attach the wire so it is as neat as possible around it. Any ideas or pics that can be posted of what you guys did to hide wires. I do not want to drill in the lanai frame etc....
- Jul 21, 2013
- 64,749
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
How about showing us pics of the run you want to do for the wire and maybe we can better advise you?
- May 23, 2015
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- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
matthewsunshineflorida
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- Sep 28, 2018
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- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I put 3/4" conduit clamps in the concrete footer just under the pavers below the mulch line and left one side of the clamp open so I can easily put in new wire. It's buried so it's invisible, but the clamps keep it against the paver footer so shovels and roots will never affect it. I'm going to run the landscape lighting through it too.
Mine go to rock speakers outside the frame, but you could just as easily drill a small hole in the screen for entry into the pool deck if you want speakers there.
I guess I can't picture what you're trying to do because it kinda just sounds way more complicated, expensive, and less effective than just running a good exterior 12ga landscape wire in the ground and coming up only wherever your speakers are.
Mine go to rock speakers outside the frame, but you could just as easily drill a small hole in the screen for entry into the pool deck if you want speakers there.
I guess I can't picture what you're trying to do because it kinda just sounds way more complicated, expensive, and less effective than just running a good exterior 12ga landscape wire in the ground and coming up only wherever your speakers are.
This was my thought as well. Just run outdoor speaker wire on the exterior perimeter of the lanai (underground or next to the foundation) and drill a small hole through the frame where you wish to put the speaker wire. You can then seal the hole around the wire with a putty or similar mix. It just seems easier to do this and also easy to change in the future if you add or move speakers.
Ideally wire in a conduit would be better but good outdoor speaker wire properly buried should work.
PoolBrews
Well-known member
- Oct 16, 2019
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- Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
Look at getting a good set of wireless speakers. There are many makes and models, some work over bluetooth, some over wifi. I put a set of bluetooth speakers in my lanai. They work great!
The only caveat is that they require power. I installed power in my soffit and mounted the speakers high under the soffit.
The only caveat is that they require power. I installed power in my soffit and mounted the speakers high under the soffit.
I thought about wireless however I was skeptical about connectivity. I have these Polk Atriums that I really like so I would like to wire them up. Okay, this is two of the speakers I am talking about. Look closely you can see the two speakers attached to the rail of the enclosure then you can see the wires coming down. I just want a neat way to run them because I do not want to drill into the enclosure...that is all.
Thanks for the picture. Are those lights battery operated or wired taht are mounted on the waist high beam?
If wired, can you replicate how they were set up to run your speaker wires?
I know you do not want to drill into the beams but it does appear the easiest would be to run wire on outside and route into the beam holding the speakers. I assumed you had to screw into the beam to mount the speakers so a single pentation from the backside that can be sealed would work and all wires would be hidden from view on the inside.
If wired, can you replicate how they were set up to run your speaker wires?
I know you do not want to drill into the beams but it does appear the easiest would be to run wire on outside and route into the beam holding the speakers. I assumed you had to screw into the beam to mount the speakers so a single pentation from the backside that can be sealed would work and all wires would be hidden from view on the inside.
I wouldn’t use that indoor or outdoor.
I would try any other way of getting actual wire buried and then up into where you need to be. You don’t need to have it in a conduit either if under soil somewhat surface level. If you are deep I would deff put it in conduit but if just closer to the surface you will be fine. Any splices use the outdoor nuts that seal u will be fine.
I would try any other way of getting actual wire buried and then up into where you need to be. You don’t need to have it in a conduit either if under soil somewhat surface level. If you are deep I would deff put it in conduit but if just closer to the surface you will be fine. Any splices use the outdoor nuts that seal u will be fine.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,674
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- 16000
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- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I guess I’d just drill the necessary through holes into the beams and studs and run it that way with high quality audio wire. You’re not compromising the structure in any way by doing so and there are easy ways to add seals or grommets to any hole you make so that it looks clean and professional when you’re done.
The other way would be to use EMT conduit to run the wires inside of and then hang it using unistrut components to tie it into the existing frame. Finally paint it all the same color to blend it in.
Your comfort level may vary …
The other way would be to use EMT conduit to run the wires inside of and then hang it using unistrut components to tie it into the existing frame. Finally paint it all the same color to blend it in.
Your comfort level may vary …
matthewsunshineflorida
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- Sep 28, 2018
- 238
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- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Now that I see your photo (beautiful setup by the way) - I'm telling you ghost wire is an expensive and less attractive/effective for this when the best looking option is also the easiest and cheapest:
Just get thick 12ga copper landscaping wire, bury it inches below the ground against the enclosure until it gets to one of the vertical posts, run it up the back with a thin white exterior raceway (could replace the adhesive with exterior "command strip" material for easy removal if desired), then when it hits the horizontal truss, run it behind that over to the speaker, then cut or drill a small hole into the screen itself directly behind the speaker. You won't be doing any permanent damage, and you won't be able to see anything from the inside. From outside, you'll just see a slim white raceway.
There's no such thing as "speaker" wire anyway - you just want two wires made of a low resistance conductor with an exterior rated insulation that protects from the elements. 12ga is 3x less resistance than 16ga, its insulation is also thicker and harder to break, and it's going to be better than any standard 14 or 16ga "speaker wire" you can buy for ANY amount of money.
Just get thick 12ga copper landscaping wire, bury it inches below the ground against the enclosure until it gets to one of the vertical posts, run it up the back with a thin white exterior raceway (could replace the adhesive with exterior "command strip" material for easy removal if desired), then when it hits the horizontal truss, run it behind that over to the speaker, then cut or drill a small hole into the screen itself directly behind the speaker. You won't be doing any permanent damage, and you won't be able to see anything from the inside. From outside, you'll just see a slim white raceway.
There's no such thing as "speaker" wire anyway - you just want two wires made of a low resistance conductor with an exterior rated insulation that protects from the elements. 12ga is 3x less resistance than 16ga, its insulation is also thicker and harder to break, and it's going to be better than any standard 14 or 16ga "speaker wire" you can buy for ANY amount of money.
Matthew, I appreciate your answer and I like that. Thanks- I think I will go that route.
Is the framing hollow? Couldn't you use a fish tape and run wire through the frame?
Me, I would fish the frame of the enclosure. But I can understand the apprehension some people have with doing that.
There are dozens of different wiremold products that you can use. If you really want it to look a clean as possible (without running it in the frame), match the paint on your enclosure and then get paintable wiremold and spray it to match before you put it up.
There are dozens of different wiremold products that you can use. If you really want it to look a clean as possible (without running it in the frame), match the paint on your enclosure and then get paintable wiremold and spray it to match before you put it up.