What Happened to My Monster Cable?

lgreen · 2nd May 2009, 04:18 AM

I've got a 25 foot section of "copper" Monster Cable that
is older and has turned black and nasty! (it was fine when new)

The problem is on the inside- not the insulation on the outside.

I cut it open and there is some kind of black goo on the wire!
(cant see it too good on the pics (flash) but its there and you can
see a little bit)

I thought the copper may have oxidized? What gives?

rephil · 2nd May 2009, 05:25 AM

Hi lgreen,

I have had a similar problem too, but this occured after more than twenty years of dayly use.

I should like to know why this occured. There were also other changes in internal color.

I have bought new cables with a bigger section, and my amp now sounds better.

Regards, rephil

planet10 · 2nd May 2009, 05:44 AM

It's probably caused by Monster suing itself for the use of the word Monster

I have some similar 10 & 12 guage wire of similar vinatge... because it is stranded and because of the poor quality of the insluation moist air has gotten in and it has oxidized. it is really dark green. I get 25 cents a pound at the metal recyclers.

dave

CharleyW · 2nd May 2009, 05:55 AM

The PVC (insulation) reacts with the copper.

Geek · 2nd May 2009, 07:17 AM

Gee, my daily use speaker cable I got at the dollar store eight years ago hasn't even done that and we've been flooded in the living room.. twice

CharleyW · 2nd May 2009, 07:19 AM

It takes around 10 years or so (at least on the Moster Cable I had it did).

QSerraTico_Tico · 2nd May 2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CharleyW
The PVC (insulation) reacts with the copper.

Yeah right. Ironically it most frequently occurs with the transparent PVC.

CharleyW · 2nd May 2009, 07:27 AM

Actually, no - you should see the wire leads in my ST-70 transformers (1967 vintage) - colored PVC insulation and very green.

It's the 'C' in PVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride. Put a bare copper wire in swimming pool and see what happenes to it - the chloride accelarates the tarnisg process.

QSerraTico_Tico · 2nd May 2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CharleyW
Actually, no - you should see the wire leads in my ST-70 transformers (1967 vintage) - colored PVC insulation and very green.

It's the 'C' in PVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride. Put a bare copper wire in swimming pool and see what happenes to it - the chloride accelarates the tarnisg process.

Non transparent vinyl does not varnish the copper.
I have old Levinson speaker cables that are as new.
Black vinyl is also bad for the copper.
Maybe is the "softener". Your chemical explaining is typical laymans.

gainphile · 2nd May 2009, 08:38 AM

Funny my 20+yrs electrical outlet cable still look shiny when I open them

2nd May 2009, 04:18 AM	#1
lgreen diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: San Diego, USA	What Happened to My Monster Cable? I've got a 25 foot section of "copper" Monster Cable that is older and has turned black and nasty! (it was fine when new) The problem is on the inside- not the insulation on the outside. I cut it open and there is some kind of black goo on the wire! (cant see it too good on the pics (flash) but its there and you can see a little bit) I thought the copper may have oxidized? What gives? __________________ My DIY audio projects- PartTimeProjects.com.

2nd May 2009, 05:44 AM	#3
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 3	It's probably caused by Monster suing itself for the use of the word Monster I have some similar 10 & 12 guage wire of similar vinatge... because it is stranded and because of the poor quality of the insluation moist air has gotten in and it has oxidized. it is really dark green. I get 25 cents a pound at the metal recyclers. dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi

2nd May 2009, 05:55 AM	#4
CharleyW diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Arlington, TX	The PVC (insulation) reacts with the copper. __________________ Hey is for horses.

2nd May 2009, 07:17 AM	#5
Geek GlassFET diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Rosedale, BC Blog Entries: 2	Gee, my daily use speaker cable I got at the dollar store eight years ago hasn't even done that and we've been flooded in the living room.. twice __________________ -= Gregg =- "Ratings are for transistors...tubes have guidelines" Hobby and communites - GeeK ZonE Commercial site - classicvalve.ca diyAudio Blog - GeeK's Bench

2nd May 2009, 07:19 AM	#6
CharleyW diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Arlington, TX	It takes around 10 years or so (at least on the Moster Cable I had it did). __________________ Hey is for horses.


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2nd May 2009, 05:25 AM	#2
rephil diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: In Belgium at the French border.	Hi lgreen, I have had a similar problem too, but this occured after more than twenty years of dayly use. I should like to know why this occured. There were also other changes in internal color. I have bought new cables with a bigger section, and my amp now sounds better. Regards, rephil

2nd May 2009, 07:27 AM	#8
CharleyW diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Arlington, TX	Actually, no - you should see the wire leads in my ST-70 transformers (1967 vintage) - colored PVC insulation and very green. It's the 'C' in PVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride. Put a bare copper wire in swimming pool and see what happenes to it - the chloride accelarates the tarnisg process. __________________ Hey is for horses.

2nd May 2009, 08:38 AM	#10
gainphile diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007	Funny my 20+yrs electrical outlet cable still look shiny when I open them __________________ http://gainphile.blogspot.com Stop tinkering that thing and start playing music !...

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