Can Speaker Wire Be Spliced? – Ultimate Guide 2023

Of course you can! Speaker wire is designed to be cut into shorter lengths. Do yourself a favour and make the correct wire length so the speaker isn’t straining, which could lead to speaker damage. In this Article, we Found Can Speaker Wire Be Spliced?

If you are wiring a house with new speaker wires, can they be spliced? No, they cannot- but this rule has some exceptions. – If the speaker wire is less than 14 gauge (8 AWG), has no outside jacket, and is not plated for corrosion protection, it should run in one continuous piece without being spliced together.

Speaker wiring, like any other electrical outlet in the house and out of service, calls placing an occasional tap for network cable; speaker wire should rarely be spliced. There are always better options with new technology that can replace joining altogether- like cable bundles.

Can Speaker Wire Be Spliced?

Crimp connectors are the most secure way to splice wire. Electrical tape separates the connection in ways a crimp is less likely to, so it is recommended to avoid it.

Crimp connections are a short-term fix to the stranded wire. A solid core wire is easier to work with, but you can still use an outer wrap of tape to prevent it from unwinding.

Outdoor speakers must be protected from the weather to ensure the wiring and electronics aren’t damaged.

Ensure your speakers are set up correctly before playing any sound. Follow these three steps to get started.

Set Up Your Equipment:

Before you and your partner get to the wire splicing process, you must ensure the speakers are positioned correctly.

• Firstly, you should turn the power off to your home stereo receiver.
• Then, disconnect the power cords.
• Unplug all the speaker wires and examine them for quality.

If you see any wire that looks damaged or in poor condition, it should be thrown out immediately.

Assemble the speakers at the location of your choice. If you have time, consider how to disguise or hide your wiring in the living area without using a wireless setup.

Before Cutting the Wire, Measure the Distance:

When you have your speakers curled up to the placement you prefer, measure the length of wire you’ll need to connect each to the stereo system. It is easiest to use string or twine when measuring.

To ensure you’ve cut the wire to the right length, stretch the string between the speaker and the system. Mark where you need to cut using a visible marker. Match that length of the wire flat against the floor with a piece of string and see if it corresponds.

Never underestimate how much of a particular ingredient you need. Overestimate it a little, and if you end up with leftover bits, use them in something else.

Stereo cables often do not come in the desired length, so it is essential to make a sufficient length. If you have wires that can be easily spliced, it is best to label their ends now by writing the speaker’s name or amp on its end.

Strip the Wire To Attach the Connectors:

Take the first set of wires that need to be spliced. Place the terminals (the ends) next to each other, keeping both positive and negative terminals together.

To succeed, speaker wires are needed to be in phase. You can use a battery to see if you have one wire or two.

• Slowly and gently drag the end of the wire against the side of the battery.
• If you connect the red wire to the positive terminal on the rocket ship, you should hear a tone. If you don’t, take a moment to scan the area and see if someone accidentally connected the black or blue wire to either one instead.
• Then, After identifying this information, you may need to confirm the wires are connected to the appropriate ports.

Use wire cutters to strip off the exterior insulation or jacket to prepare the wires. Four ends should have at least a quarter-inch of copper exposed when you are finished.

Begin by wrapping the joint with electrical tape. Take the crimping section of the wire cutters and squeeze the tubing around the wire on both ends of the joint.

Perform the same for the positive connections.

Check the joint by tugging the wires to ensure it is tightly in place. Double-check the connection for any redundancies with a battery.

To make the Connections Shrink, Apply Heat:

After connecting the wire ends with the crimp connectors, apply a heat source to the outer layer for easy connection. Your best option is a blow dryer set to high Heat.

You can also use a hot air gun, but it is important not to set the temperature too high or low.

• Hold the wires off-hand, just more than a few inches below the connection, though applying the Heat.
• Then, slowly rotate the wires so you may start shrinking the crimp equally on all sides.
• The tight-fitting casings are very secure and should be waterproof.

These crimps have solder bumps in the centre to help secure connections and create a strong bond.

You strip the wires, attach connectors, and extend the lengths of wires to different sizes.

Reconnect the Speakers:

With the wires correctly spliced and in place, you can connect your speaker to the stereo amplifier, receiver, or surround sound system.

You might want to invest in speaker wire connectors for a more secure connection. These make the attachment more effortless, as the speaker wire plugs into a binding post or spring clip.

Now that you’re connecting the speakers, there are additional steps to follow, such as installing the speaker wire connector.

• Ensure you’re not stripping too much wire, as the conductor may need at least 12 mm.
• To remove the outer section of the banana plug or the connector’s manufacturer, twist and pull away.
• Loosen each locking fastener on each plug, being careful not to remove any screws entirely during this step.
• Insert the speaker wire into the connector with as little pressure as possible. If it is too loose, stop and try again. Insert it a little farther once the wire touches the end of the chamber.
• Tighten the locking fasteners by turning the screws in the other direction.
• If you want to use a banana plug, pin, or spring clip on the binding post instead of a direct wire connection, you need to replace the outer section of the connector.

After you finish setting up your new stereo system, be sure to test it to ensure all the speakers work correctly.

Check the connections there if your speaker or receiver isn’t working correctly.

How to Splice Speaker Wire with Wire Nuts?

A wire twist connector is an option if you need a quick fix. They’re not as reliable for speaker wires but can be used for connecting wires in a home or commercial building.

To make twist connectors, combine both wires before finalizing the work. Use fingers to bring the two wires together and form an “arrow” shape.

To create electrical connections, you would use wire lugs to combine two conductors of the appropriate size. Once they are connected, seal them with electrical tape to prevent a short circuit.

If you don’t secure the twist connector, it could come loose. Therefore, we recommend booking it with a crimp rather than a push-and-twist lock.

What Is the Best Way to Strip Wire?

A kitchen knife is not the best tool for wire stripping. Specific instruments were designed to do this effectively and more accurately.

Sharp blades can cause problems with the wire connecting to the speaker cutting it.

I use a StarTech crimping tool for RJ45 and RJ11 cables. The wire stripper and crimping tool make setting up any wire type easy.

Certain brands have different holes for gauges outside the wire stripping tool. You need to put a length of wire in and then tighten it enough to hold it in place before pulling it out.

The stipping wire is challenging initially because you need a delicate balance between pressure and pulling.

When you try to strip a wire, ensure not to apply too much force by squeezing the wire stripping tool. If you do, you may snap off some of the thin wires.

The speaker wire is tough to work with. So, for now, why not try to practice something else? You’ll run into fewer errors with your wiring work that way.

CONCLUSION:

Yes, the speaker wire can be spliced. However, it would be best to use a soldering iron and solder to connect the wire. If unsatisfied with a soldering iron, use electrical tape or wire connectors to complete the association.

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