How to Splice IN-WALL speaker Wire

[HTHOLIC]

I have an Impact Acoustics cl3 or 2 12/2 in-wall speaker Wire, thing is How I am supposed to cut it.

Its a white wire and inside it is the black and red covered copper, so Not only do I need to cut off the white- but also strip the black and red. Upon looking at the wire I see a bunch of foamish material inside the wire.

Please Help Anyone.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have an Impact Acoustics cl3 or 2 12/2 in-wall speaker Wire, thing is How I am supposed to cut it.

Its a white wire and inside it is the black and red covered copper, so Not only do I need to cut off the white- but also strip the black and red. Upon looking at the wire I see a bunch of foamish material inside the wire.

Please Help Anyone.

Where is this splice going to be, close to the end or really in wall?

Carefully cut and peel about 4-6" of that outer insulation layer so you have room to separate the two conductors.
I like to stagger the joints to limit shorting possibility and having a bulky bundle with two joints side by side.

Stagger the cuts of the black and red wires about 2"-3", same with the other wire you will connect. Cut about an inch of the individual wire insulation, and remove on both wire sets to be joined. I would pull shrink tubing on each color. twist the black wire and solder. Pull the shrink tube and shrink it with heat. Same with the other color.
You may also consider a larger shrink tube over the whole wire beforehand and shrink it all in the end.

 

[HTHOLIC]

Thanks but

I am confused as to which tool(s), I am actually supposed to use. I don't intend to run in-wall speaker wire through the wall, but I like that fact the color is white so it blends in.

With Wife approval factor, I am sure- a white cable blends with a white painted wall, so it will help.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am confused as to which tool(s), I am actually supposed to use. I don't intend to run in-wall speaker wire through the wall, but I like that fact the color is white so it blends in.

With Wife approval factor, I am sure- a white cable blends with a white painted wall, so it will help.

OK, so it won't be placed in wall
Is this your first such 'operation?' There is a first time for everything.

There is white shrink tubing out there too to cover all the wire.

What I would suggest is using a box cutter with a small amount of blade exposed, carefully slice it lengthwise, feeling for the two conductors inside and not cutting into it. Once the jacket is sliced open, separate them to see the inside cables. Carefully bend the wire bundle so you can cut the jacket at each end with only the two wires left in that 6" section, or so. I would pick up an inexpensive wire cutter and stripper from Radio Shack, if you have one close by, or Home Depot, or electronics store.

If you don't have a soldering iron, you may need one of them too and solder.

Now that I am thinking, it might be cheaper to buy more wire of the right length than buying all the tools?
The shrink tube can be heated, carefully with matches.

 

[HTHOLIC]

What is the solder for?

I thought I could just twist the wire into my yamaha rx-v receiver. Once I cut the wires, there is no way to rejoin them right?, For 100feet wire its small.

Would you advise next time to not get in-wall speaker wire, I am looking to buy more wiring. I have never hooked up a ht system before, but am familiar with those red/black wires that go into those spring clips on the back of speakers. However those red/black wires are suually just a single hard strand where you just put in.

I have a wire cutter or a tool that has different holes corresponding to different gauges(some holes are bigget than others).

 

[Johnd]

Solder the bare wire, crimp on connectors, solder on connectors.

All will work, the latter is best for conductivity, longevity and minimizing the chance of shorting out the amp or blowing a speaker (due to stray wires that short out with other wires or connections). Cheers.

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

there's nothing wrong with in wall wire....just be sure when you use the heatshrink you pass the match (I use a lighter or one of those grill starters) quickly back and forth so as not to actually melt the heat shrink. You can find heatshrink on ebay in white....just measure the diameter of the wire and buy heatshrink that's a bit larger....piece of cake!

 

[mtrycrafts]

I thought I could just twist the wire into my yamaha rx-v receiver. Once I cut the wires, there is no way to rejoin them right?, For 100feet wire its small.

Would you advise next time to not get in-wall speaker wire, I am looking to buy more wiring. I have never hooked up a ht system before, but am familiar with those red/black wires that go into those spring clips on the back of speakers. However those red/black wires are suually just a single hard strand where you just put in.

I have a wire cutter or a tool that has different holes corresponding to different gauges(some holes are bigget than others).

I think I may have not understood what you are after, after all.

Is your speaker wire too short to reach the speaker and you want to add more wire? Or, the wire is long enough and only want to connect the wire to the amp?

 

[HTHOLIC]

I have never hooked up HT before

What I am saying was, if I cut too short of a wire- would I be able to rejoin it in the future-(I am already thinking of buying more wire), its just that is so confusing to cut speaker wire, and solder things when I have never done those type of things before.

The inwall speaker wire- comes rolled up, how I am supposed to cut the ends off (the red and black) to get to the copper, without destorying or cutting off copper, its like splicing a needle accurately. Its the impact acoustics speaker wire cl2/12 if you want to take a look at what I am referring to.

 

[Swerd]

The inwall speaker wire- comes rolled up, how I am supposed to cut the ends off (the red and black) to get to the copper, without destorying or cutting off copper, its like splicing a needle accurately.

You can always cut away the red or black plastic insulation with a sharp blade. It takes some care to avoid cutting the copper strands, but its not real difficult.

For about $10.50 you can buy a wire stripper that does the job quick and easy. The one in the picture is part #360-267 at Parts Express dot com. Ones like it are probably available in most hardware stores.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Okay, if you start with the wire in the box...

Step 1: Pull out enough wire to reach the speaker from behind the receiver. Leave about 1 foot extra at the receiver to strip off and get to the actual wire. Leave several extra feet at the speaker end to strip, etc. as necessary.

Step 2: Cut wire. Use normal wire cutters to cut the wire at the desired legnth - right through everything. That leaves you with one piece of wire that goes from the receiver to the speaker you want to connect.

Step 3: Using a sharp knife (I use my pocket knife) cut back the outer jacket an inch or two. There should be a thin white piece of string inside that you can pull on to open up the jacket several more inches. Then, use the knife to cut the hanging white jacket off. Avoid cutting the red/black wires.

Step 4: Use your wire stripper tool (different sized holes) and put it around either the red or black wire and cut about 1/2" of housing off the wire. It should come off clean with no problems at all.

Step 5: Repeat for other color.

Step 6: Repeat for other end of the cabling.

If you find that you do not have enough cable to make it to a speaker in a single run, then get more speaker wire. I typically buy in 250 or 500 foot lengths as speaker wire always comes in handy at times. I do not recommend you splice wiring together if you don't have to. If a piece is to short - use it somewhere else then get a piece that is long enough.

 

[mtrycrafts]

What I am saying was, if I cut too short of a wire- would I be able to rejoin it in the future-(I am already thinking of buying more wire), its just that is so confusing to cut speaker wire, and solder things when I have never done those type of things before.

The inwall speaker wire- comes rolled up, how I am supposed to cut the ends off (the red and black) to get to the copper, without destorying or cutting off copper, its like splicing a needle accurately. Its the impact acoustics speaker wire cl2/12 if you want to take a look at what I am referring to.

I guess I didn't misunderstand you

swerd and bmx has good inputs. Since you are in this hobby, soldering is part of it and should have the tools and practice some. You can spare a few inches of wire, or buy some cheap wire for this. May want to stop in at a store such as Home Depot and look for some do it yourself wiring book. They will let you read it in store

While it may not have much on soldering, it will help you understanding wiring, etc. Or, at a book store that may have something specific to audio wiring?

 

[HTHOLIC]

thanks but

Thanks BMXTRIX, so to clarify all I need is that wire-cutter and I am fine?, can I use a kitchen knife to get to the actual copper. What I was confused about is how do I strip the red/black to get to the copper, and with the copper do I twist it in the receiver and just put the cap back in the receiver(yamaha rx-v2500).

 

[BMXTRIX]

1. Thanks BMXTRIX

You're welcome.

2. ...to clarify all I need is that wire-cutter and I am fine?

There is one tool I use and it is pictured at the bottom. You can get this wire stripper/cutter from Home Depot or online for about 10 bucks or so.

3. ...can I use a kitchen knife to get to the actual copper. What I was confused about is how do I strip the red/black to get to the copper

Use the wire stripper pictured below. BEFORE you go at the actual wire you have put in place for the speaker, cut a foot off the spool and practice. Perhaps 2 or 3 feet off. Practice opening the housing up, practice cutting the housing off, then practice actually stripping the insulation off the copper. It is easy enough, but a little practice instills confidence. FYI: I mostly make my wife strip all the wires I install as jumpers. Took her about 5 minutes to figure out.

4. ...with the copper do I twist it in the receiver and just put the cap back in the receiver(yamaha rx-v2500).

Yes, you can just stick it in the red/black binding posts. But, the fit is kind of tight back there. Why not pick up 5 or so packs of these banana plugs to use on the back of your receiver? They are AWESOME! No soldering or anything, just a couple of small screws to use.

http://www.impactacoustics.com/product.asp?cat_id=115&sku=29785

Wire strippers below can handle 10-22 gauge wires... Since you have 12 gauge, it is perfect! Check at Home Depot.

 

[HTHOLIC]

Thanksbut Im confused as to actually open the housing up

I have a wirecutter in which different guages are used(ie, gauge 12 has its own hole). what is confusing me is acutally opening up the white part. My speaker wire comes bundeled up in circular bulk, so the wire isn't flat on the ground.

 

[HTHOLIC]

anyone there?

 

[AverageJoe]

...or you could save yourself the trouble, and just get them premade.

Like these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/5-1-Surround-Home-Theater-Speaker-Cables_W0QQitemZ9727143953QQcategoryZ14966QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[BMXTRIX]

I have a wirecutter in which different guages are used(ie, gauge 12 has its own hole). what is confusing me is acutally opening up the white part. My speaker wire comes bundeled up in circular bulk, so the wire isn't flat on the ground.

Almost all wire is sold in a box or on a spool. You have to unroll it. Say you measure out 30 feet that you need. So, this means you should really use about 35 feet or so - at least - just to be safe. Unroll 35 feet, then cut it with your wire strippers/cutters.

Now you have ONE 35' piece of wire. Now you can strip the housing off the cable and get at the wires on the inside.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have a wirecutter in which different guages are used(ie, gauge 12 has its own hole). what is confusing me is acutally opening up the white part. My speaker wire comes bundeled up in circular bulk, so the wire isn't flat on the ground.

If you read my post, I am pretty sure I discussed this aspect specifically. Use a box cutter with minimum blade out, carefully cut lengthwise, avoiding the cables inside which you should be able to feel. Or, just cut at the opening a bit and pull apart with a bit of careful help from the box cutter again.
Even if you happen to cut into one of the wires inside, you could use a shrink wrap over it after you cut it and before splicing it.

Experiment on a scrap section.