Question 1

Why are patch cables made of such thin wire?  22AWG is really meagre.

Accepted Answer

I don't know what your application is, but plain RCA patch cables are usually made with 26AWG wire.  This is actually an RG59 coax cable designed for megahertz signals.  In other words, it is already complete overkill for audio connections.

Question 2

Are these balanced or unbalanced connectors?

Accepted Answer

They are RCA connectors.  All 2-conductor cables are inherently 'unbalanced.'  Balanced connections require three conductors, such as XLR cables.

Question 3

Is this cable rated for in wall installation?

Accepted Answer

No, It may work; but is not code in most areas.

The difference is in it's ability to handle voltage surges, and in some cases fire retardants. The theory is that if something goes wrong with a cable outside a wall, well you can see it and replace it before it becomes a safety issue. In the wall, you can't really see it. The specific codes used to specify requirements for in wall audio wire would also fall under fire resistance rating defined in Article 725 of the National Electric Code. And in the case of a cold air return where gases released if the cable is exposed to fire could be spread to the whole house, Plenum (added fire retardant) is usually required by code. Basically when it comes to "In Wall look for these things;

CL2: Class 2 cable, In wall low voltage cable. Protects against surges of up to 150 Volts. Common uses are for burglar alarm cabling and speaker wire. It could also be seen as a CL2P, which means that it is also Plenum rated (added Fire Retardant).
CL3: Class 2 cable, In wall low voltage cable. Protects against surges of up to 300 Volts. Common uses are for burglar alarm cabling and speaker wire. It could also be seen as a CL3P, which means that it is also Plenum rated (added Fire Retardant).

Question 4

Is this a single cable with 2 rca ends each side, or 2 separate cables?

Accepted Answer

Technically two separate cables fused together; you could pull them completely apart and have two independent cables if desired.

ASIN	B003L1717K
Best Sellers Rank	#1,909 in Electronics ( See Top 100 in Electronics ) #11 in RCA Cables
Brand Name	Monoprice
Cable Type	RCA
Color	Black
Compatible Devices	Laptop
Compatible Phone Models	No Compatible Phone Models
Connectivity Technology	analog audio
Connector Gender	Male-to-Male
Connector Type	RCA
Customer Package Type	Standard Packaging
Customer Reviews	4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (19,662)
Data Transfer Rate	16 gigabits_per_second
Ethernet Cable Category	Cat 5
Gauge	22
Global Trade Identification Number	00844660053460
Included Components	2 RCA Plug/2 RCA Plug M/M 22AWG Cable
Indoor Outdoor Usage	Indoor, Outdoor
Item Length	1.5 feet
Item Shape	Round
Item Weight	2.72 ounces
Manufacturer	Monoprice
Model	105346
Model Name	105346
Number of Items	1
Number of Pins	2
Other Special Features of the Product	Lightweight
Part Number	105346
Recommended Uses For Product	Audio
Specification Met	No
UPC	844660053460 710348847365
Unit Count	1.5 Feet
Warranty Description	Lifetime Warranty

Monoprice 1.5ft Premium 2 RCA Plug/2 RCA Plug M/M 22AWG Cable - Black

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