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Author Topic: Splices in speaker wire runs Tom Wienholt Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: Towson, MD, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-24-2003 11:48 PM                     I read in one of the forums that having splices in speaker wire runs should be avoided. Is it really that important to avoid splices? I had to splice an extra 10 feet of wire behind the screen to reach each speaker. I made connections with wire nuts. Is this ok?  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 03-24-2003 11:54 PM                    It won't be to the purist. Personally, I think you should solder the connections so you don't have to worry about oxidation getting in there years from now. Maybe leave them as twisted by the wire nuts but solder (with an gun or torch sufficient for the size of the conductor to do a good job) then when cool twist the nut back over it.  |  IP: Logged Sam Hunter Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 779 From: West Monroe, LA, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 03-25-2003 12:22 AM                     I second Steves thoughts. If you solder and use heat shrink you should have no problem at all.  |  IP: Logged Tom Wienholt Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: Towson, MD, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-25-2003 12:57 AM                     What about when hooking up 2 subwoofers in parallel. I have one pair of 10 gauge wire running from the booth to the woofers behind the screen. How else could I wire the two subs in parallel without using wire nuts?  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 03-25-2003 01:40 AM                     Like this: All you need is a simple barrier strip (which can be screwed to the back of one of the subs) and some fork lugs for all the connections. Make sure you solder the connectors to the wires as a crimp may not hold with heavier gauge wire. -Good Luck! -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Neil McGovern Film Handler Posts: 35 From: Sheffield, UK Registered: May 2002 posted 03-25-2003 08:40 AM                        If you're just using +ve and -ve wires, it's worth looking into attaching XLR connectors to the bare wires, which prodeces a very good seal. Make sure that you don't get the solderless connectors though. HTH  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-25-2003 08:41 AM                     I vote, "Yes, if you solder." Make your splice in-line instead of simply twisting the wires together at the ends. (Greater area of contact between the wires.) Stagger them if you can so you don't have two splices right next to each other. (Prevents the possibility of them shorting together.) Tape over the splice(s) with a good grade of electrical tape and then put heat shrinkable tubing over that. If you can find silicone insulating tape use it instead of electrical tape. It has insulating properties at least as good as the original insulation.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-25-2003 08:50 AM                     XLR connectors are not designed for #12 and #10 wire to connect to them nor are they designed for any current capacity If you want a connector use the Speakon's from nuetrix I preffer wire nuts to soldering speaker wires Never had any corrowion issues even in some pretty damp and humid locations  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 03-25-2003 10:53 AM                    I'm just supposing that since some people claim to hear a difference between solid and stranded and the fuss some make over special wire, oxygen-free copper and all that, that particularly with cable where the conductors are large that the small contact area where the twisted strands touch ought to be supplemented by solder which will also prevent the formation of a brown oxide later on the copper surfaces.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 03-25-2003 02:08 PM                        quote: ITS when something belongs to something IT'S A contraction of "it is" Thank you! Now, if we could just send something NOOK-YOU-LUHR at everyone who says "DUBB-YUH", and "NOOOOZE", and...... um...... sorry.... got carried away there!  |  IP: Logged Tom Sauter Expert Film Handler Posts: 163 From: Buffalo, NY, USA Registered: Sep 2000 posted 03-25-2003 04:43 PM                        The 12 guage 120VAC wiring in US homes carries more dangerous stuff than your average speaker run and does just fine with wire nuts. I like Randy's suggestion of staggering them a bit. Makes for a nicer cable dressing. I recommend against splices in theatre wiring mainly to prevent electricians from squeezing the last little bit out of a spool to save a buck and cause me to spend too much time ringing out the wires they didn't pair correctly or worse poor splices they made that short an amplifier to ground.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 03-25-2003 05:47 PM                  Actually the higher power amps put out significantly more dangerous "stuff" than the common household 120vac "wiring". A 120V/20A circuit carries 2400 watts. Many amplifiers put out 3 or 4 or more kilowatts and require class I wiring because of the voltages and currents they carry....most times in conduit. >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 03-25-2003 06:04 PM                    Jack, I thought you'd appreciate that I called him "Mr." -- I would submit that an extra, say, quarter ohm resistance might have deleterious affect on the sound especially during peaks. That same quarter ohm on a power circuit pulling 10 A. is going to cause 2.5 W of heating and not much else.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 03-25-2003 06:14 PM                        I'd sooner lick a live pair of 110V wires than the output of any serious amplifier any day. Then again that's just me... and explains quite a bit. Nuetrix's Speakon connectors are great for non-permanent setups. In fact you'll find them in most any speaker designed for road use.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 03-25-2003 06:26 PM                  Daryl: "Lick"? Hubba Hubba! Speakons R great! Do NOT use XLRs! >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged

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