6
WIRING
The trickiest part of installing outdoor loudspeakers is
running the wire. Pre-wiring new construction is strongly
recommended, but this is not always possible. Access
to a basement, attic, or crawl space can simplify the
task of getting wires to the appropriate locations. If you
are a do-it-yourself homeowner, you may wish to hire a
professional for the purpose of running the wires, even
if you are planning on mounting the speakers yourself.
The terminals used on the Outdoor loudspeakers will
accept up to AWG #12 speaker cable. We recommend
using the largest wire that is practical to run in your
installation. A minimum of AWG #16 should be used
for runs up to 50 feet, with AWG#14 for runs from 50-
100 feet. Runs longer than 100 feet should use AWG
#12.
While the wire may be directly inserted into the termi-
nals, in outdoor use standard copper wire will eventu-
ally oxidize, potentially creating a faulty connection.
For this reason, we recommend using the gold plated
spade lugs we have included to terminate the speaker
wire. A properly crimped or soldered connection will
create a gas-tight contact surface with the wire which
will not deteriorate. The gold-plated contact surfaces
of the spade lug and speaker terminal will be resistant
to oxidation, making the connection more reliable. It is
not mandatory to use the spade terminals. Connecting
the wire directly to the terminals will not compromise
performance, but you may need to periodically scrape
the wire contact surfaces clean if the speakers are left
outside year around.
solder or crimp
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