how to find my speaker wires again (lol)

[Pistons23]

i used these cutters/crimpers
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36411

and this to strip wires
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36901

 

[4x4fun]

the big red ones are designed to put the terminal in side and fully crimps it on one shot, the ones i put up, strip the different sizes of wires, snip, and have a universal, crimping, the two piston put up; the one with the v notch are a universal stripper, yo can move the nut to set the size, but after you get good, you can do it by feel, and the crimpers have the same universal crimping as the one i put up.

 

[baxtej44]

i tried looking down from my hood but still can't find the wires.. is there anyway i can like trace them from my HU?

 

[a-5 freak]

why dont you just run new wires??? its not hard and reletively cheap. Just go out to wally world and buy 50 ft or 25 ft of scoche speaker wire. I think that the newer speaker wires sound better. as for those red handled ones, dont get em. use the blue handled ones posted by 4x4. the red handled ones only crimp, not strip the insulation off the wire you are trying to splice.

 

[baxtej44]

why dont you just run new wires??? its not hard and reletively cheap. Just go out to wally world and buy 50 ft or 25 ft of scoche speaker wire. I think that the newer speaker wires sound better. as for those red handled ones, dont get em. use the blue handled ones posted by 4x4. the red handled ones only crimp, not strip the insulation off the wire you are trying to splice.

anyone second this?
i mean in all honesty, it somewhat makes sense to me... if i had a home theatre system from 1988 (haha) and upgraded today, i wouldn't throw away the speakers/receivers and keep the wiring... i'd use the new wiring.

that's just an analogy of course, but i think running new wires would be another good learning experience, but just cost more money, i just need to know if i will have a noticeable difference, or if it is safer for the HU or speakers, and if it's safer for like not shorting/etc. (just had prom last night.. jesus that shit is expensive lol)

 

[4x4fun]

iv done both. it all kinda depends on the effort level. By now i would have just ran new wires. It will be better, but some what unneeded, but for $10 of wire its a good learning lesson. and if you ever amp your highs or do any think like that it will be needed. also, like you said, "how old are the wires now", the new wire will have more shielding.

 

[kunar]

it certainly won't hurt to run new wiring, and it may sound better in the long run. it shouldn't take much more than a few minutes per side. zip tie them up out of the way where they wont get caught on anything, and are easy to find if you drop them again

oh, and i still stand by my recommendation of the ratcheting crimpers. okay, sure... you cant strip your wires with them. you need a set of strippers too. but they work sooo much better, and you get a good, strong connection. something that wont pull out if you look at it wrong. totally worth the trade off, and the small price difference IMO

edit: i suppose if you dont plan doing much wiring, just get the cheaper ones. the will cut/strip/crimp all in one. if you want some decent tools though, get yourself a nice pair of cutters, a set of strippers and those nice crimpers.

 

[4x4fun]

oh, and i still stand by my recommendation of the ratcheting crimpers. okay, sure... you cant strip your wires with them. you need a set of strippers too. but they work sooo much better, and you get a good, strong connection. something that wont pull out if you look at it wrong. totally worth the trade off, and the small price difference IMO

ill have to agree with you on that.

the ones i use i have to take 4 steps to crimp a wire as good as those, but i think its more about what your used too; and what your doing. i spend most of my time bent up like a pretzels under a dash, and i can do all 4 crimps in about, 15 sec, which for me is better then looking for tools upside down. but as you do it more you will find what you like.

 

[a-5 freak]

ill have to agree with you on that.

the ones i use i have to take 4 steps to crimp a wire as good as those, but i think its more about what your used too; and what your doing. i spend most of my time bent up like a pretzels under a dash, and i can do all 4 crimps in about, 15 sec, which for me is better then looking for tools upside down. but as you do it more you will find what you like.

I am the same way. I have both the crimpers w/o strippers and the stripper/crimper combo and i just like the combo one better. The crimper does do very good crimps but if you squeeze hard enough with the combo, i think it will be plenty fine.

 

[baxtej44]

i'm thinking i'm going to run new speaker wire.


can i get this at like a home repair shop? I'm thinking it will probably be a bit cheaper... what gauge should i get, and also what else should i look for in the wire?

should i get about 15 feet? that should give me a couple extra feet incase i mess up.



should be getting my other speaker in the mail this week, i am getting impatient, and want my speakers in


if i'm running new wire i will just wait until this weekend and do everything.

 

[baxtej44]

not gonna run new wires as of now, if i really want to, i can get some and run it this weekend... not a big deal to me




got my second driver in the mail today... can't wait, have tomorrow off after a quick meeting after school, and then i might get started.


steps:
1-disconnect negative battery cable (someone told me to do this so i don't blow fuses by the cables gettin pushed around and what not)
2-slice off old connector
3-strip wire 1/2 inch down
4- twist wires together inbetweeen fingers to braid them together
5-loop wires back on themselves, folding in half basically
6-slide into terminal connector, until hits the little tab
7 - crimp on
8-connect speaker # 1
9-reconnect neg bat term, test it out, if it works, repeat steps 2-8 with speaker # 2


wish me luck guys!

will be taking pictures (probably every step)

 

[4x4fun]

not gonna run new wires as of now, if i really want to, i can get some and run it this weekend... not a big deal to me




got my second driver in the mail today... can't wait, have tomorrow off after a quick meeting after school, and then i might get started.


steps:
1-disconnect negative battery cable (someone told me to do this so i don't blow fuses by the cables gettin pushed around and what not)
2-slice off old connector
3-strip wire 1/2 inch down
4- twist wires together inbetweeen fingers to braid them together
5-loop wires back on themselves, folding in half basically
6-slide into terminal connector, until hits the little tab
7 - crimp on
8-connect speaker # 1
9-reconnect neg bat term, test it out, if it works, repeat steps 2-8 with speaker # 2


wish me luck guys!

will be taking pictures (probably every step)

step 1 you should always disconnect the battery most do the positive side tho.

step 3 a half inch might be a lil to much, just dont have any extra wire showing out the back of the terminal.

step 5 if you have to fold it in half you have the wrong size terminal, if you can fold it in half and still stick the wire in there the wire/terminal is the wrong size

 

[Psychopete]

I drilled off the terminals on the old speakers and soldered the new pre-crimped wiring for the speakers to that. They plug right into the factory harness.

Pete

 

[fastpakr]

step 1 you should always disconnect the battery most do the positive side tho.

This is absolutely wrong.


The negative cable is disconnected because you cannot possibly cause a short by connecting the body of the vehicle and the negative terminal if you touch both at the same time. Do the same with the positive cable and all bets are off as to what may be damaged by the resulting short.

 

[4x4fun]

This is absolutely wrong.


The negative cable is disconnected because you cannot possibly cause a short by connecting the body of the vehicle and the negative terminal if you touch both at the same time. Do the same with the positive cable and all bets are off as to what may be damaged by the resulting short.

id like to know how, you manage to touch a battery terminal on the side of the car, pos or neg. when 90% of the time, your not in the engine compartment.

secondly, if you dissconect the neg. and your holding a big power wire thats connected to the pos. that line is still hot. you dont have to connect your sefl to the neg of the battery to get shocked, any good ground will do. it doesnt care that its not going back to the battery.

but thats just me