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Best way to weather-proof outdoor speaker cable termination/connection point?

post #1 of 6
6/22/12 at 6:22am
Thread Starter 
Friends,
I'm poised to mount some patio speakers and am trying to figure out how to best protect the point where the speaker cable connects to the speaker. The speakers will be mounted on an exterior wall with no other protection from the elements, i.e. I can't mount them under the eaves or under a screened-in porch.

I assume I should at least use banana plugs but the range of opinions on this topic runs the gamut from bare wire is OK to duct tape to electrical tape to some sort of gel to heat shrink to coax wrap.

I did find this product which looks promising:

http://outdoorspeakerstore.com/SPCCN1_Waterproof_Speaker_Connector_p_16228.html

It seems to be sold at all the usual places you'd expect. Overkill?


FWIW, the speaker cable is CL-3 16 gauge. It's already in place; I just need to terminate and connect to the speakers after I mount them.


Thanks in advance for feedback.


Cheers,

km
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post #2 of 6
6/23/12 at 5:02pm
Thread Starter 
Folks,
Any advice?


Best,

km
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post #3 of 6
6/23/12 at 5:16pm
whats wrong with silicone? this is commonplace with outdoor wirenut electrical connections. i don't see why it wouldn't be acceptable with speakers.

by the way, i thought you were dead. any plans on reuniting with roger and pete? tongue.gif
Edited by brendelac - 6/23/12 at 5:32pm
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post #4 of 6
6/23/12 at 6:09pm
Thread Starter 
So are you suggesting to just use bare wire, fasten it to the posts and then smear them with the gel?
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post #5 of 6
6/23/12 at 7:02pm
Go to Home Depot / Lowes and look into their low voltage wiring connectors. I don't remember what they look like but as I recall, they have some goo inside them to keep the water out.

Might have same thing in the electrical department for home wiring but I'd expect it to be a more permanant type connector. (like a shrink wrap thingy for UF wire)

Been 10 years since I've messed with any of those things, but they're out there.
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post #6 of 6
6/23/12 at 7:47pm
Go to Autozone or Advance, and ask for the grease that is used for tail & turn signals. Spread a little of the grease on the terminals of the speakers and the wire, and you will be fine. By far better than squirting Silicone caulk all over.

As for coytee, those are usually used for direct burial, not hanging in the air. The compound is the same as the grease that I mentioned, that is used for vehicle connections, to keep out moisture.
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