Speaker Polarity

Home / the12volt's Install Bay / Car Audio / Speaker Polarity (

Topic Closed)

Welcome Guest :)

Members

< Prev Topic Next Topic >

Lumpy

Member - Posts: 7

Joined: March 23, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: March 26, 2003 at 10:41 PM / IP Logged

Can speaker polarity be measured with a VOM? If so, would the readings be DC or AC voltage? And what would a typical voltage be?

wvsquirrel

Gold - Posts: 1,237

This member has made a donation to the12volt.com. Click here for more info.

Joined: July 27, 2002

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: March 26, 2003 at 10:50 PM / IP Logged

I'd just use a 9v battery and pop the speaker. It's easier, and there's no question about the outcome (either is in phase with the correct + and -, or it isn't). I've never heard of anyone using a VOM to test polarity before, but I'm not a pro so I'm sure there are alot of little unknown tricks out there

Squirrel

"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"

If its too loud, then you're too old

Donate to the12volt.com

Powerslave0

Copper - Posts: 116

Joined: November 12, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: March 27, 2003 at 8:07 AM / IP Logged

The speaker has two terminals, beside each one there is usually a + or - indicator, or one connector is smaller than the other. Using a battery, test the polarity. If the speaker EXTENDS, you have the right polarity.

Only connect and observe for on second, then remove the pattery. You can blow the speaker out if you tru again too soon, or leave the power in to long.

esmith69

Gold - Posts: 1,511

Joined: November 26, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: March 27, 2003 at 6:35 PM / IP Logged

You can check the polarity of speaker wires coming from an amplifier using a DMM. Just hook positive DMM lead to one speaker wire, then negative DMM lead to the other wire, and test for voltage. Positive voltage indicates the wire that the positive lead is touching is the positive speaker wire; negative voltage indicates the wire that the negative lead is touching is the positive speaker wire. Oh yea I should mention the amplifier has to be turned on for this test to work.

Course if you're talking about the other end, to a speaker, only way is to do the speaker popper method. But if you have both ends of the system (factory speakers and factory amp) you can usually just look at the wiring on the output side of the amp, and use the above method to test the polarity of those output wires. Then just match up colors to the wires that go to the speakers.

I've never heard about waiting for a few seconds before trying to pop them again...it just never really occurred to me, but I guess it's probably good advice---better safe than sorry!

Lumpy

Member - Posts: 7

Joined: March 23, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: March 27, 2003 at 10:30 PM / IP Logged

esmith69, your first paragraph answered my questions in part. That is exactly what I am trying to accomplish, trying to figure out which speaker wire when energized is the + and which one is -. The factory neither has a color or designation as to which is which. The speakers actually have 4 wires, so I am trying to figure out which 2 and their polarity to use so I can take off of them and send them onto the amp.

Does anybody know what the voltage should be at the factory speakers?

Thanks everyone else for your responses. Lumpy

x6369x

Copper - Posts: 108

Joined: November 10, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: March 27, 2003 at 10:38 PM / IP Logged

What kind of vehicle are you working on? What speaker and what colors are you dealing w/?

Friends Don't Let Friends Bump Stock.

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Search the12volt.com

Follow the12volt.com

Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.

Speaker Polarity

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.This topic is closed.

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.