PDA

View Full Version : How to check speaker polarity

Fen
26-02-2005, 19:31
OK, not SEAT but bear with me please...

I've just replaced the speakers in the Pug with Alpine components in the front and 6x9s in a stealth shelf in the back. Not especially high end but should sound pretty good and will be enough for me with my Pioneer P77MP HU. I don't want to go to the amps & subs level.

Anyway the Pug uses yellow connectors with a pair of equal size spades in them for speaker connections. I don't think they stick to any sort of convention regarding colour and the wires/terminals aren't marked so how can I figure out for sure which wire is + and which is -, preferably definitively with a multimeter?

Thanks in advance.
Icecavern
26-02-2005, 19:57
http://www.icecavern.com/faq.php?cat_idx=2 might help mate
Fen
26-02-2005, 20:05
Thanks Pete, just found that same advice on the 'net but the problem is I know which terminal is which on the speakers, just not which wire is which from the car's loom. I guess I should pop the HU back out and test to find which wire is connected to which terminal with my multimeter.
Icecavern
26-02-2005, 20:59
But the plug will only connect one way into the speaker surely? If so just look at which of the two plugs into the + of the speaker ;)
Fen
26-02-2005, 21:13
Nah, the plug only connects 1 way to the Pug speaker but it has no way of indicating which is which for the Alpines. i.e. both terminals are the same size in the Pug connector and it is only oriented by the shape of the connector, and obviously my new speakers don't have the same connector as the OEM ones.
m0rk
26-02-2005, 21:19
could you do a continuity check from the back of the HU, down to the speaker end of the wire?

reckon my fluke guage would have long enough leads to just about do that.
Fen
26-02-2005, 22:53
I don't think my Fluke does but I'll give it a go tomorrow because I think that's the only way. I can always extend the speaker wire back into the car to test with.
Fen
27-02-2005, 14:52
Turns out my Fluke cables were long enough. Also turns out I had the phase wrong on both left speakers which means I now have just a little bit more bass than before. Sounds fappin' good now actually.