Hi all,

I ran rg-6 quad / 12G speaker wire and now want to make my connections.

Is there a tool that i can use for both?

I don't need anything expensive because this will be the only time i'll use it.

Thanks
Blue

Hello again, BB.

Not that I'm aware of, and I'm fairly up-to-date on tools, being an electrician and A / V installer.

You can get a small coax crimper at Radio Shack that is about the size of a small wire stripper, and does not have jaws that stay parallel, but the parallel kind are better.

You can also get screw-on connectors, which are not quite as good, but if your installation assures the connectors will never get tugged on, that might do.

The center conductor of coax becomes the 'pin' of the plug, so the plug type is not relevant in that regard. The real trick to well-installed coax plugs is in the stripping of the cable.

R.S. also sells a little tool that is made for stripping coax, and I consider it a good investment if you will be doing your own work (along with decent hex crimpers). It works by twirling around the coax and step-stripping the outer jacket, the braid, and the dielectric (inner insulation).

By the way, be sure to get plugs intended for quad-shield RG-6, or else the cable jacket will not fit into the barrel of the plug. Stay away from the plugs that have a separate crimping ring; they're a P in the A.

Final advice: Be sure you do not have any stray shield braid wires sticking out of the barrel. They can cause all sorts of interference and noise, even though they're part of the ground conductor.

The speaker leads, you didn't mention in detail, but any decent wire crimper should work for most lugs, but soldering is better.

Larry

Hi Larry : >.

I'm with u on the cable but i don't understand what u mean by "The speaker leads"

Right now the wire is just hanging with no connections at all. No connections to speakers or from the wall where the interconnects will go to receiver.


Thanks so much
God Bless

Blue

This message was edited by Bluerain on 09/19/01 23:04.16.

BB, you said,"I ran rg-6 quad / 12G speaker wire....", so that's what I meant. I used the term 'leads' ('pronounced 'leeds', not 'leds') to refer to the wires. I assumed you are looking to terminate the 12 ga. speaker wires to a receiver or amp on one end, and the speakers at the other. I suggested that, while crimping speaker terminals, such as pins or split lugs, can be done well, soldering is generally better, as long as it's done well. Banana plugs are very popular options, too.

Larry

Larry,

You know i knew what a lead was but i just forgot it.

I'm in a daze.
I live in NYC and i'm still in shock.I look out my window and still can't believe the WTC is not there ,then i start thinking of all those people down there. ( then the crying starts again)

At night looking out my windows you can see the flood lights along with the smoke(yes it's still smoking).

My neice works there but took off that day (THANK GOD) but it's hard to feel joy when so many others didn't make it.

I have lost friends and friends of friends.

It's a little harder when you live here and see it everyday with your own eyes.

Sorry if this if off topic but i had to get that off my chest.

Thanks and GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Blue

Blue (I guess the name fits right now), I'm happy for your niece, and I understand how you feel. It sounds a little like survivors' guilt. I'm in VA, but both of my parents are from NYC (Bronx & Brooklyn), and I have about a dozen 1st cousins there. Luckily, nobody I know was involved.

Speaking for myself, I don't mind a little shoulder-leaning. I'm not 6'3" for nothing, y'know.

Larry

If your planning to use the bare lead into the speaker twist down terminals...I don't recommend tinning them. I prefer the snug fit and greater surface contact area with bare ends...