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Directional wires/cables

Is there any reason to support the idea that cables, interconnects or any other kind of wiring can be considered directional? It seems that the theory is that carrying current will alter the molecular structure of the wire. I can't find anything that supports this other than in the case of extreme temperature variation. Cryo seems to be a common treatment for wire nowadays. Extreme heat would do something as well, just nothing favorable. No idea if cryo treatment works but who knows. Back to the question, can using the wires in one direction or another actually affect it's performance? Thanks for any thoughts. I do abide by the arrows when I have them. I "mostly" follow directions but I have pondered over this one every time I hook up  a pair.

billpete
jeffbij
272 posts
 

I completely botched it up... not @jea48, but rather @mclinnguy....

I'm going to shut up now...

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,077 posts
 

What happens when you flip off a light switch? Light goes off immediately.

I would interpret "immediately" to mean small fractions of a second after flipping the switch, after the energy in the lines has completely been absorbed by the load.

Just questioning the "one way direction" of energy in an alternating current conductor, but that’s fine.

mapman's avatar
mapman
23,600 posts
 

If it's designed directional, it should have arrows on it. It's that simple.

If the vendor claims it is directional and does not indicate the correct direction, that's a clear design defect and I would find another vendor.

 

kennyc
2,888 posts
 

So much rhetoric.

Much simpler to try both directions yourself than to try to understand the elusive reasons why

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,077 posts
 

Much simpler to try both directions yourself than to try to understand the elusive reasons why

Absolutely @kennyc

Some of us just like to hurt our brains every once in a while.

I recall reading that Jay, the proprietor of Audio Bacon website, was reviewing the Snake River Audio Boomslang digital cable a few years back. After talking with the cable’s designer for follow-up information he found out that he actually had it in backwards- he didn’t know it was directional- and he definitely heard a difference putting it in the "right" direction, but he actually preferred the sound of it "backwards".

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