question about splicing speaker wire

[Kaido]

I've used wire nuts for my old car's head unit, but I was wondering if I can use them to connect three wires properly for home audio use. I want to run a wire from a sub amp to two bass shakers. The diagram I have shows the wire from the sub amp being connected to two wires, one to each bass shaker (mini subwoofer type of things). I'm wondering if I get a big wire nut, if I can use that to connect all three wires. Will that work or will they not get enough power? Here's a link to the PDF diagram. I'll be using the 100w sub amp with four shakers total just like the picture.

So basically, I need to make three cables. All three cables consist of three wires. I'm trying to figure out how to connect (splice) them properly.

 

[radioouman]

It will work, but you will change the impedence of the system, so it might not sound like you would expect.

 

[Kaido]

Here's a picture:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/kaido/couch_wiring.jpg

What's a better way to splice the wires properly?

 

[Kaido]

Oh, the amplifier will be built into a little end table to put drinks and snacks on. There will be two wires going into it, both using banana plugs connected to a terminal cup. I just need to figure out the proper way to connect the wires

 

[radioouman]

Unless there is something that I don't understand about bass shakers, you should have all of those connected in parallel... you're wiring makes me confused.
Take a look at this pic. Everything is connected in parallel this way.

couch_wiring1.jpg

(Ignore your wiring.)

 

[Kenazo]

Shakers? So they just vibrate your couch? cool. Never seen those.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
Shakers? So they just vibrate your couch? cool. Never seen those.

yeah, so you can "feel" it when the Trex in Jurassic Park starts stomping around

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Unless there is something that I don't understand about bass shakers, you should have all of those connected in parallel... you're wiring makes me confused.
Take a look at this pic. Everything is connected in parallel this way.

couch_wiring1.jpg

(Ignore your wiring.)

see the link in the first post; that's the 'official' wiring diagram from Parts Express (series-parallel).

 

[radioouman]

oh I See...ok, so I would follow their wiring, and yes, you can use wire nuts to tie everything together. Solder is better, but nuts should be ok.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: radioouman
oh I See...ok, so I would follow their wiring, and yes, you can use wire nuts to tie everything together. Solder is better, but nuts should be ok.

I'm going to learn how to solder next week, do I need heatshrink or anything to cover the solder joint?

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: radioouman
Unless there is something that I don't understand about bass shakers, you should have all of those connected in parallel... you're wiring makes me confused.
Take a look at this pic. Everything is connected in parallel this way.

couch_wiring1.jpg

(Ignore your wiring.)

see the link in the first post; that's the 'official' wiring diagram from Parts Express (series-parallel).

If he wired them all in parallel, that would present a 1-ohm load to the amp. very few amps can survive that.

oversimplified:
Series == doubles resistance
Parallel == halves resistance

 

[cavemanmoron]

how many times are you going to ask this?>

Replying to Topic: question about splicing speaker wire
Created On 04/29/2005 09:59 AM by Kaido



http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1579859&enterthread=y

Topic Title: what can I use to hook 14 gauge speaker wire together?
Topic Summary:
Created On: 04/28/2005 08:54 PM




http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1525869&enterthread=y

Topic Title: will speaker wire pins work with a receiver with the hinge connectors?
Topic Summary:
Created On: 02/21/2005 04:53 PM

 

[ribbon13]

Can you put + and - terminals on that image to be more concise?

 

[ElFenix]

solder is your friend

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
how many times are you going to ask this?>

Replying to Topic: question about splicing speaker wire
Created On 04/29/2005 09:59 AM by Kaido



http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1579859&enterthread=y

Topic Title: what can I use to hook 14 gauge speaker wire together?
Topic Summary:
Created On: 04/28/2005 08:54 PM




http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1525869&enterthread=y

Topic Title: will speaker wire pins work with a receiver with the hinge connectors?
Topic Summary:
Created On: 02/21/2005 04:53 PM

different applications and amplifiers.

I'm thinking about using wire nuts on the whole thing...they're removable, right?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Can you put + and - terminals on that image to be more concise?

added

 

[TwoBills]

Originally posted by: Kaido


I'm going to learn how to solder next week, do I need heatshrink or anything to cover the solder joint?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just heat the splice w/a Bic lighter and touch it w/some thin solder. Electrical tape on the splice.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: TwoBills

Originally posted by: Kaido


I'm going to learn how to solder next week, do I need heatshrink or anything to cover the solder joint?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just heat the splice w/a Bic lighter and touch it w/some thin solder. Electrical tape on the splice.

Sure, if you wanna be ghetto.

Yes, use heatshrink.

 

[TwoBills]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: TwoBills

Originally posted by: Kaido


I'm going to learn how to solder next week, do I need heatshrink or anything to cover the solder joint?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just heat the splice w/a Bic lighter and touch it w/some thin solder. Electrical tape on the splice.

Sure, if you wanna be ghetto.

Yes, use heatshrink.

 

[TwoBills]

Originally posted by: TwoBills

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: TwoBills

Originally posted by: Kaido


I'm going to learn how to solder next week, do I need heatshrink or anything to cover the solder joint?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just heat the splice w/a Bic lighter and touch it w/some thin solder. Electrical tape on the splice.

Sure, if you wanna be ghetto.

Yes, use heatshrink.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No, ghetto is when you use a match. one for 20 ga. and up, two for 18 - 16 ga., below that you need a bic.

 

[Ornery]

First of all, your impedance is going to be all balled up. Second, can't they be connected via coaxial digital output? Third, they could be terminated with spade lugs, and stacked on the binding posts.