What am I Missing?!?!?

[Gator KStenz]

I purchased a new home a couple months ago that was prewired with outdoor speakers. After I was able to test all wires and determine which went to which speakers (there were also built in ceiling speakers in the living room), I had wired the outdoor speakers to the "B" outputs on the receiver. One of the two speakers didn't work, so I jumped wiring from the other outdoor speaker to make them work.

Well, next thing you know they both quit working. I brought both speakers in and connected them to other wires and they both worked. So, I figured it wasn't the speakers. The receiver I was using was very OLD. Plus it was only a 5 ch and I needed a 7 and I wanted the HDMI capabilities. So, I purchased a new Yamaha V663.

I hooked it up and I still have no outside speaker sound. I went up in the attic and I couldn't see any issues with the wires (thought maybe bugs or a rodent got to them).

What could I be missing? I double checked the set up on the receiver and the simple stuff.

 

[Adam]

Have you checked continuity in the wires running to the outside speakers? That would be a good way to check if the wiring is the problem. Sure sounds like it is. If the speakers work, and the receiver works, but you don't get sound when you use the wiring going to the outside...probably the wiring. It might be the wires themselves, or it might be a simple fix like one of the connectors - I'm assuming that the wires go into a junction box near your receiver with speaker jacks on it. Check those over and make sure that they are all connected correctly (I suggest using an Ohm-meter).

 

[mtrycrafts]

I purchased a new home a couple months ago that was prewired with outdoor speakers. After I was able to test all wires and determine which went to which speakers (there were also built in ceiling speakers in the living room), I had wired the outdoor speakers to the "B" outputs on the receiver. One of the two speakers didn't work, so I jumped wiring from the other outdoor speaker to make them work.
What could I be missing? I double checked the set up on the receiver and the simple stuff.

Why don't you test it with the A speakers, front left and right, of the receiver using the house wiring to see if it works
If it does, then you have a receiver setting issue.

 

[markw]

Check the continuity of the wire runs.

I'd recommend powering down the receiver before kerfutzing with any wires.

Disconnect the speaker wires from the receiver and slap an ohmmeter/continuity tester on 'em. You should get a fairly low reading. If you don't get anything, then your problem is somewhere between there and the speakers.

If you got nothing, disconnect the speakers and twist the two leads together and again take a reading. If it's still open, you've got a bad wire run.

Are there level controls between thw two ends end of the wire?

 

[Gator KStenz]

Are there level controls between thw two ends end of the wire?

I'll go pick up an ohm meter and test the wires. I'm way too much of a audio newbie to know what level controls are. What do you mean by that?

 

[markw]

I'll go pick up an ohm meter and test the wires. I'm way too much of a audio newbie to know what level controls are. What do you mean by that?

volume controls. Sometimes people have these in the room with the remote speaker to control their volume level.

 

[Gator KStenz]

Gotcha - thanks. Volume levels are turned up.

I found that I have an ohm tester in my toolbox while doing some work over the weekend. I'll try to test the wires tonight. Just to confirm, have the wires hooked to the speakers, but not to the receiver when testing?

 

[Alex2507]

Gotcha - thanks. Volume levels are turned up.

I found that I have an ohm tester in my toolbox while doing some work over the weekend. I'll try to test the wires tonight. Just to confirm, have the wires hooked to the speakers, but not to the receiver when testing?

I think he meant to disconnect the wires from everything. Then connect the + and - wires together at one end. That way at the other end you can connect your ohm meter to the + and - to see if it has any breaks. Make sense?

 

[Alex2507]

I'll go pick up an ohm meter and test the wires. I'm way too much of a audio newbie to know what level controls are. What do you mean by that?

Volume controls. Kind of like a dimmer switch for lights.

 

[Gator KStenz]

I found a digital multi meter in my toolbox that I purchased not too long ago for testing something on my boat. What setting should I use for testing the speaker wires? Anyone know? The instruction manual didn't provide a lot of help.

 

[Adam]

I did a Google search on "continuity check", and the first site has a picture and description that might help you.

Check it out at: http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/homemaintenance/electrical/continuitytest.php

Adam

 

[Alex2507]

I found a digital multi meter in my toolbox that I purchased not too long ago for testing something on my boat. What setting should I use for testing the speaker wires? Anyone know? The instruction manual didn't provide a lot of help.

The lowest setting. Actually I don't think it matters as you're not really trying to get an accurate ohm reading. You just need to know the wire is in one piece. Follow the manuals instructions on zeroing the meter. That way you'll know that you're on the right function.