WATTGATE audio grade receptacle

All strands of 8 gauge will not fit around one Wattgate screw terminal, however the strands can be split into two groups and connected to the two screw terminals on one side, or you can use a crimp-on screw terminal for all strands which will fit around a screw terminal (neither method however may meet code). Eight gauge may be overkill (although that's what I used), but I would not go smaller than 10.

Mechanical stresses of 8 gauge copper may be more than the recepticle is capable of withstanding during installation. Please verify with Wattgate whether the recepticle screw mounts and the recepticle body can safely support 8 gauge. If they ok it, then I would use a deep double size wall box with a plaster ring. The larger box will allow for more gradual and safer bends of such large diameter wire.

Or you can use the larger mount boxes, and pig-tail down to the size that will fit in your receptacle. This is what my contractor did for me, reducing my 6 gauge to 10 gauge, which should fit in any higher quality receptacle (FIM in my case). Oh, and it does meet NEC code. This is done everyday, in every home that has 3 way light switches.

Hope this helps!
Brian