Electronics > Beginners

Determine speaker power wires polarity

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cdev:
If you are talking about speaker phasing, not power for amplified speakers, face the two speakers towards each other with the fronts facing one another but not touching, then put the source on mono and the right way to connect them is the way that sounds markedly louder.  Its best to use a wire where you can clearly tell one side from the other, just be consistent with both sides, yes it does matter a lot. All speakers sound like crap if they are wired out of phase.


--- Quote from: jotwerde on October 31, 2018, 07:39:32 pm ---Someone gave me their speakers of which the power cable (cable from outlet to speakers) is cut at one point.
The separate wires of the cable are identical to each other (no distinct color of isolation or cables). The isolation is transparent and the wires are both silver-gray.

Is there a way to determine which wire to connect to which?
Does it even matter in the case of speakers?

Here's an (rather ugly) image to illustrate what I mean:
https://imgur.com/a/xsL8eFJ

--- End quote ---

tooki:

--- Quote from: JustMeHere on November 01, 2018, 03:48:30 am ---You need to make sure the hot wire is switched off.  That does matter. 

In the US single pole light switches go on the hot line.  If you do it the other way around it's against code.  You can be shocked if it's done backwards and your changing the bulb.

--- End quote ---
Repeat after me: in Europe, the polarity is not enforced by the plugs, so every device with a plug must be made to be safe regardless of polarity. This is why in Europe, devices with plugs must be double-insulated. (The only way a device can be sure of polarity is to be hard-wired.)

The OP is in Bulgaria, which is part of Europe which uses the German-style socket, which does not enforce polarity even for grounded plugs. So any appliance used there MUST be designed to be safe with either polarity.


For all intents and purposes, the Americas are the only place that still relies on polarized 2-prong AC plugs for safety in any way. (I suppose the Australian plug enforces polarity, not sure if they allow devices to rely on it, though.) But since more and more products are designed for world compliance anyway, they just properly double-insulate anyway.

And why are you even bringing up light switches and sockets? We aren't talking about house wiring, where things must be done accurately. This is a plug-in device, which must comply with different standards separate from household code.

Mechatrommer:
that doesnt matter...

IanMacdonald:
Are you talking about signal leads from an amplifier, or a mains lead to powered (active) speakers?

Kinda important as if you get this one wrong you'll destroy them.

Active speakers will also have some other signal input socket, such as a Cannon XLR or 1/4" jack. They will also have a rating plate stating the allowed mains voltage range.

jotwerde:
First, I wanna thank everyone for taking the time to post a reply.


--- Quote from: IanMacdonald on November 01, 2018, 09:56:32 am ---Are you talking about signal leads from an amplifier, or a mains lead to powered (active) speakers?

--- End quote ---

--- Quote from: tpowell1830 on November 01, 2018, 04:01:53 am ---Is this the speaker wires from the amplifier or is it your power cord wire to the speaker system that brings power from the wall?

--- End quote ---

Mains, thought this was illustrated in the image (by showing the plug at the one end). Am I maybe misunderstanding something?


--- Quote from: JustMeHere on November 01, 2018, 03:48:30 am ---You need to make sure the hot wire is switched off.  That does matter. 

In the US single pole light switches go on the hot line.  If you do it the other way around it's against code.  You can be shocked if it's done backwards and your changing the bulb.

--- End quote ---

I live in Europe.


--- Quote from: Audioguru on November 01, 2018, 12:02:32 am ---The mains electricity plug was cutoff, not the speaker connection to its amplifier.
Modern plugs are polarized so that the widest blade is the Neutral connection. Then the Neutral wire connects to the non-sensitive power input to the amplifier in the speaker to avoid hum.

--- End quote ---

It's a Type C plug (can be seen in the pic, maybe did't make it clear/good enough, sorry). No blades at all.


--- Quote from: johnkenyon on October 31, 2018, 08:09:44 pm ---In my experience, speaker wires are marked in one of three ways, different colours, white stripe, or moulded ridge on one side.

If your wires don't have any kind of colour code (e.g red+black, or black+black with white stripe), then use your fingers to touch the cable - specifically feel the side of each wire opposite where it joins the other wire - you will find one side will be round, and the other will have a ridge.

Poor ASCII art:

(o)(o>

o represents the copper core of each wire the other symbols represent the outer insulation.

--- End quote ---

--- Quote from: The Soulman on October 31, 2018, 08:05:56 pm ---
--- Quote from: jotwerde on October 31, 2018, 07:39:32 pm ---The separate wires of the cable are identical to each other (no distinct color of isolation or cables). The isolation is transparent and the wires are both silver-gray.

--- End quote ---

Typical power cords are brown/blue on the inside are you 100% sure it is a power connection?

Do you have a (internet) picture of these speakers or a manufacturer name and model number/name that we can google ourselves
so that we all can sleep a little bit better?  :)

If it is mains connection than it shouldn't matter.

--- End quote ---

It's the cable with the speakers at one end and the plug intended to be plugged into the wall socket on the other. It has to be the power connection.
But the wires are both similar (look and feel).
Here's a pic (or two):




From tooki and Mechatrommer's answers I gather that it's safe in this case to connect the wires to either ones of the others, right?

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