Hi

My home had speaker cable pre-installed from multiple rooms to a central point. I would like to take advantage of this but I need to trace each cable to the correct speaker.

I've heard of the 9V battery "trick" to help in matching the speaker to the cable but how do I check the polarity? Is it a case of trying one way around and then swapping the terminals if it doesn't work?

Thanks in advance.

Just try them, it wont hurt anything as long as you dont have the power pegged. Low volume and hook em up.

It takes two people... one to "touch" the wire to the + of the battery, one to look at the speaker.

If + is to +, the speaker cone should move out. If polarity is reversed, the speaker will pull in.

It takes two people... one to "touch" the wire to the + of the battery, one to look at the speaker.

If + is to +, the speaker cone should move out. If polarity is reversed, the speaker will pull in.

Wow! Thanks!!

the other option is picking up a toning wand and toner from homedepot you connect the toner to one end of the cable and go to were you run is at and put the wand next to the wire you think it is and it will make a distinctive noise identifying what wire is what.

or use a multimeter.