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Topic:
SPEAKER POLARITY
This thread has 9 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Saturday February 22, 2003 at 18:31
arnie
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What's the easiest way to make sure I have the speaker wire positive and negative hooked up properly. My speaker wire does not have any markings on it and both wires are the same color and material and it runs thru the ceiling of my house, so I can't simply just follow the wires. I assume if they are incorrectly hooked up that the sound is different? Help!
Post 2 made on Saturday February 22, 2003 at 19:40
Tom Ciaramitaro
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Take a 1.5 volt battery and connect to the speaker wire momentarily and remove. Have someone else stationed at the speaker. When you apply 1.5v have the other person tell you if the woofer cone is moving out (towards you) or in (away from you). If moving towards you, then the + of the battery is the speaker positive. If it's moving away from you, it is the - of the speaker wire.

Some little satellite speakers have a capacitor on the input which will block the dc from the battery. You may see a slight movement, maybe not. Reverse the battery polarity in this case each time you tap the battery terminals and see if you see the cone move.
There is no truth anymore. Only assertions. The internet world has no interest in truth, only vindication for preconceived assumptions.
Post 3 made on Saturday February 22, 2003 at 19:47
Ahl
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before putting on the speaker grilles, touch a nine volt battery to the 'input' ends of the wires... watch the speakers... If the cone moved OUT, then mark the wire according to how you put it on the battery...
If it moved IN, then hook the wires to the battery the other way, rinse repeat

Do this for both speakers
We can do it my way, or we can do it my way while I yell. The choice is yours.
Post 4 made on Saturday February 22, 2003 at 21:49
Larry Fine
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The 9-volt may be a little harsh. A small burst will get to the tweeter as the series cap(s) in the crossover charge.

I've never seen wire that had no identification at all. look for one or several ribs molded into the plastic along one conductor, or a thread mixed in with the strands of one conductor, or writing embossed ,or something.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com
Post 5 made on Sunday February 23, 2003 at 09:35
Matt
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Well, the sound would only be different if you hooked one of the pair up reverse of the other. Otherwise, if they were both out of phase (cone moving inwards on say a beat) you probably wouldn't notice anything. Out of polarity pairs will sound thin from phase cancellations, and the bass response will vary greatly from location to location.
Post 6 made on Sunday February 23, 2003 at 13:04
Larry Fine
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To read the question again, Arnie needs to ascertain the polarity of the wires, not the speakers. Here's what I suggest:

If the wires genuinely are unmarked in any way, arbitrarily connect a simple 1.5-volt battery (D, C, AA, AAA, anything) to one end of each wire, marking the polarity to match the battery.

Use a DC voltmeter at the other end, determine the polarity with the meter, and mark the polarity there. Tape on one conductor would be a simple way. Instant marked wires.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com
OP | Post 7 made on Sunday February 23, 2003 at 19:42
arnie
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Guys, thanks to everyone for your answers. I did try Tom's method and it worked brilliantly. Speakers moved out with polarity correct and in with it reversed. Very noticable and easy to do if you have 2 people. Once again thanks alot, Arnie...!
Post 8 made on Monday February 24, 2003 at 22:24
Matt
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To re read the question again...

"I assume if they are incorrectly hooked up that the sound is different? Help!"
Post 9 made on Tuesday February 25, 2003 at 21:49
Larry Fine
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Matt's right! We should have responded by saying:

"Yes!"
Post 10 made on Wednesday February 26, 2003 at 23:56
Matt
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Jeez larry, your too smart...


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