help making speaker wire longer...

[usher]

need them longer. can you just twist them together and tape them that they dont rub the other wire? that way i dont need anything special or soldering the wire

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

A Comprehensive Guide to Splicing Speaker Wire

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[markw]

That pretty much sums it up. Twist them tightly, make sure there are no loose strands, and be da*n sure you tape it well. Electrical tape would be the preferred medium.

If you want to be doubly sure, stagger the splices so there is an inch or more difference between the two splices in each wire.

 

[slipperybidness]

Honestly, the correct (permanent) way to do it is to solder them and cover the splice with heat shrink.

Those crimp connectors work, but not ideal.

I have used twisting and taping, but only for temporary extensions. And, if you are going to do that, I agree that staggering it is the best way to do it. The thing with electrical tape is that eventually it always seems to either get sticky or not stick well.

 

[herbu]

Or, you could just use a wire stretcher. That's what we always sent the new guys to get in the Navy. That, and the light bulb repair kit.

 

[slipperybidness]

Or, you could just use a wire stretcher. That's what we always sent the new guys to get in the Navy. That, and the light bulb repair kit.

+1

Wire stretcher FTW

 

[3db]

Honestly, the correct (permanent) way to do it is to solder them and cover the splice with heat shrink.

Thats the best way but I've never had trouble with twisting and taping. If done correctly, it will last a long time. It just looks like a hack is all

 

[slipperybidness]

Thats the best way but I've never had trouble with twisting and taping. If done correctly, it will last a long time. It just looks like a hack is all

Yeah, define "a long time".

I have had many taped splices do 1 of 2 things after about 2 years. Either the tape gets all sticky and makes a mess that you don't wanna deal with, or the tape falls off.

I will say that if you must use the twist and tape method, be sure to use GOOD QUALITY TAPE (3M tape as the reference article mentioned). If you use Harbor Freight tape, you might be redoing the splice in 6 months.

On the other hand, solder and heat shrink is PERMANENT. I have also made splices so good and precise with this method that you would only notice it from very close inspection.

To me, it comes down to "more work and do it once or less work but repeat the work at a later date". Granted, not everyone has access to the tools to do the solder method. But, I consider soldering iron and heat shrink as necessities!

Hey, there is another option not mentioned in the article, and not mentioned here yet. In some situations, this could work out very well. I present the humble terminal block.

http://www.parts-express.com/Search.aspx?keyword=terminal blocks&sitesearch=true

 

[chris357]

how much is speaker wire?

 

[JohnnieB]

how much is speaker wire?

Perhaps, the better question is, how long does the wire need to be?
I always prefer to just replace the run with new. One solid length, no splicing.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12/180-8057513-4769301?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=speaker+wire+12+gauge&sprefix=speaker+wire,aps,271

Quality heat shrink costs as much as, if not more than, speaker wire.