The amount of money save over using #14 AWG is what $20?
Is that the value he places on himself, you, his family and all the people in the audience.
It is a dumb risk for too little reward. Why do it?
If you are his friend, go down to Home Depot or some other store and buy the wire that is suitable for this purpose.
Insulation aside ... CAT5 has 8 conductors. Paralleling 4 and 4 will increase the effective gauge by 8 (4 steps)
#28 will be #20. Still dangerous with 110 or 220.
The amount of money save over using #14 AWG is what $20?
You’re preaching to the choir.
I just know this guy and he likes to do things HIS way and whenever he can save five cents he will. This family is an interesting study for me. Almost everything they eat is off their own property. They slaughter and process their own meat, including pork sausage. They home school their three kids, the youngest of which is 13 now.
They drive two beater cars that I would not trust to carry me ten miles. They live on almost zero income. They are exactly the kind of “middle class” family you would expect to find in appalacia.
They like me being in the “family band” because I am a good experience for their kids and I like it because they are enlightening to me as well. Oh, and their main source of income is selling raw milk and cheese and some eggs.
They built their own house and barns, and you don’t need building permits out here. I doubt VERY seriously they have insurance of any kind.
BTW, his specialty is solar power. ;-)
CAT 5 wire for 110 volt of ANY wattage is not worth it for me. It makes zero sense. I leave him to do whatever he wants, though.