YACAT: Is there any way to easily test which speaker wire is + and which is -?

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Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
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The speaker wires going to the amp in my car don't have any distinguishing marks which would tell me which one is positive and which is negative. I used to have labels around them so I knew which was which but durning a new amp install some of them came off. I don't really feel like pulling my door panel off and unscrewing the speakers to find out. I can't really tell the difference by ear. Is there any other way?
 
Colt45

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
19,720
1
0
there isnt a positive and a negative. its phase. so.. you need a scope:p


edit #2: i was right in the first place, nevermind the first edit which has since been edited out
 
quakefiend420

quakefiend420

Lifer
Aug 26, 2004
14,685
1
76
you can get it right through trial and error...if you have decent hearing you can tell when a speaker is out of phase...if you can check continuity from the back of the head unit or the amp that would be the easy way though...if its labeled somewhere, that is
 
B

Black88GTA

Diamond Member
Sep 9, 2003
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Get a 9v battery. Touch the contacts to the bare wire ends. If speaker cone moves out, + terminal is touching + wire. If cone moves inwards, + terminal is touching - wire.

EDIT: Although, this may be difficult if your amp is in the trunk, and/or you can't see the speaker cones :(
 
R

RaiderJ

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
7,582
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Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Get a 9v battery. Touch the contacts to the bare wire ends. If speaker cone moves out, + terminal is touching + wire. If cone moves inwards, + terminal is touching - wire.

EDIT: Although, this may be difficult if your amp is in the trunk, and/or you can't see the speaker cones :(
Click to expand...

 
Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Well I am trying to avoid needing to take the door panels off because they are made of particle board and they are almost ruined (old convertable + florida rain = water damage). Guess I will have to take them off... :(
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
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Originally posted by: RaiderJ
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Get a 9v battery. Touch the contacts to the bare wire ends. If speaker cone moves out, + terminal is touching + wire. If cone moves inwards, + terminal is touching - wire.

EDIT: Although, this may be difficult if your amp is in the trunk, and/or you can't see the speaker cones :(
Click to expand...
Click to expand...



Yep thats what I do when I have worked on others cars.
 
Zim Hosein

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Nov 27, 1999
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Zim Hosein

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Nov 27, 1999
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Originally posted by: Shawn
What's so confusing?
Click to expand...

The link I gave you showed you the basics of using a multi-meter Shawn; if that did not help, did you try the 9V idea? :confused:
 
C

Crucial

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
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I was just going to type all this out but it is taking too much effort for something so simple.
 
D

DOSfan

Senior member
Sep 19, 2003
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I think I got this one Zim.

The wires in question run from the speakers in the doors, to where the amp is (the trunk I presume).

He is wondering which one of those is possitive.

It isn't as easy as if the wires were coming from the amp, then the multimeter would come into play.

Put a meter across a speaker, no matter how you do it you read resitance (either 4 or 8 ohms depending on the speakers), or no voltage, or no amperage.

That is why neither a multi meter, nor the knowledge of how to use it will help him.
 
Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Originally posted by: DOSfan
I think I got this one Zim.

The wires in question run from the speakers in the doors, to where the amp is (the trunk I presume).

He is wondering which one of those is possitive.

It isn't as easy as if the wires were coming from the amp, then the multimeter would come into play.

Put a meter across a speaker, no matter how you do it you read resitance (either 4 or 8 ohms depending on the speakers), or no voltage, or no amperage.

That is why neither a multi meter, nor the knowledge of how to use it will help him.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought. Thanks.
 
G

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
1
81
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Get a 9v battery. Touch the contacts to the bare wire ends. If speaker cone moves out, + terminal is touching + wire. If cone moves inwards, + terminal is touching - wire.

EDIT: Although, this may be difficult if your amp is in the trunk, and/or you can't see the speaker cones :(
Click to expand...
The correct answer.

 
S

sharkeeper

Lifer
Jan 13, 2001
10,886
2
0
The battery test will reveal polarity of common dynamic (moving coil) loudspeakers.

With that in mind comes a warning.

NEVER attempt this test with the amplifier connected to the terminals. A 9V battery fortunately is not capable of much current. However, ANY DC traversing back to the amplifier is bad. Especially cheaper amplifiers with IC output stages.

Larger drivers (i.e. woofers) with stiff suspensions may not react to the tickle of a 9V and may require something with more current such as a Pb battery (the sealed pack out of a UPS, for example). This will damage the output of most amplifiers. This test is only safe if you're connecting the battery directly to the loudspeaker leads or wire that you know goes to the loudspeaker and nothing else.
 
Specop 007

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
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The correct answer is dont worry about it, go with what sounds good and if you cant hear a difference then it doesnt matter.
KISS, its always about KISS.
 
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