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Bought a new house

834 Views 6 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  Tweak, 
L
Gents,


I just bought a new house with in wall speakers and component video cabling.


All the speaker wires and both component cables route to one closet. By simple inspection it is impossible to discern which cable goes where.


I need a way to test what speaker is what and what component cable is doing what. I don't want to utilize all the speakers (yet). I need to get the 5.1 system setup, and that is my first concern.


Recommendations on continuity testers (if that is correct terminology)?
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T
A nine volt battery will allow you to determine which speaker cable goes to which speaker. Momentarily connecting the wires to the battery will produce a pop sound.


If you have any type of ohm meter, you can test the component cables by shorting one end of the cable and testing the other end for low resistance. You can easily short one end by lightly stuffing some aluminum foil into it.


-Tweak
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L
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweak
A nine volt battery will allow you to determine which speaker cable goes to which speaker. Momentarily connecting the wires to the battery will produce a pop sound.


If you have any type of ohm meter, you can test the component cables by shorting one end of the cable and testing the other end for low resistance. You can easily short one end by lightly stuffing some aluminum foil into it.


-Tweak
Very nice, thanks. Was wondering how many times I would have to hook the wires up to the receiver!


The nine volt battery will work worlds better.


Now I need to decide on a RCA termination scheme. Crimp or no crimp.
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AV Doogie
Short the two ends of the cable together and use your tongue for sensing the voltage. It feels really good.


You still have to make sure that you have wire polarities correctly identified!
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T
Determining the polarity of the speaker wires is easy. Chances are they can already be identified by text on one wire of each pair, or a raised section of insulation. If not, you just need a helper to connect the battery while you watch whether the speaker cone moves in or out.


-Tweak
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L
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweak
Determining the polarity of the speaker wires is easy. Chances are they can already be identified by text on one wire of each pair, or a raised section of insulation. If not, you just need a helper to connect the battery while you watch whether the speaker cone moves in or out.


-Tweak


Is there any other way to determine polarity? I am getting ready to connect the receiver soon, and the speakers are actually on the ceiling (12 feet(. Kinda hard to determine cone movement.


Liver
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T
If you bought a house, just get yourself a step ladder. I know you probably don't want to spend any more money, but coming from a fellow homeowner, trust me, you'll use the step ladder over and over again.


-Tweak
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