Dreadnaught Project - Flatwire with Neutric Speakons
dpowell
Posts: 3,068
As part of my dreadnaught project, I wanted to use the same wire that I use as speaker wire on the 2.3TL's. This is both a consistency as well as cost-saving approach since I already have two 8' sections of wire remaining from the installation. That said, the wire I'm using is Goertz 13AWG installer grade flatwire which is commonly used for installations where use of standard round or thick oval-shaped speaker wire would not be aesthetically pleasing. I realize that this project may not be one encountered very often on the forum but at the urging of Jesse, I'm posting some pictures to add to the collection of knowledge gained from DIY projects.
My goal was to terminate Goertz flatwire using Neutric Speakon model NL4FX Connectors in order to follow the new standard set for use of Speakons with dreadnaughts.
The Goertz flatwire is....well, flat. There are two flat solid copper conductors surrounded by an outer insulation. One of the copper conductors is fully exposed while the other is mostly encased in a thin, barely visible insulating lacquer that allows both conductors to lay flat against each other without shorting. typically, these conductors are terminated with a banana or spade connector which contains a slot in the base in which the conductor is inserted. The conductor is held in place by two screws that go through the base of the plug and clamp the wire to the other side of the base.
In order to use Neutric Speakons, modification needed to be performed on the flat wire to create a circular plug that could be inserted into the connection on the speakon plug. Modification was relatively easy after a few minutes of trial and error. Using a pair of wire strippers the conductor was easily curved into a circular shape and compressed until the circumference of the conductor could be inserted into the plug. The lacquer was strategically scraped from the portion of the conductor to allow full contact when inserted into the speakon connector. The fit was snug and the clamp on the speakon keeps the conductor held in place tightly. The rest of the assembly was a breeze.
My goal was to terminate Goertz flatwire using Neutric Speakon model NL4FX Connectors in order to follow the new standard set for use of Speakons with dreadnaughts.
The Goertz flatwire is....well, flat. There are two flat solid copper conductors surrounded by an outer insulation. One of the copper conductors is fully exposed while the other is mostly encased in a thin, barely visible insulating lacquer that allows both conductors to lay flat against each other without shorting. typically, these conductors are terminated with a banana or spade connector which contains a slot in the base in which the conductor is inserted. The conductor is held in place by two screws that go through the base of the plug and clamp the wire to the other side of the base.
In order to use Neutric Speakons, modification needed to be performed on the flat wire to create a circular plug that could be inserted into the connection on the speakon plug. Modification was relatively easy after a few minutes of trial and error. Using a pair of wire strippers the conductor was easily curved into a circular shape and compressed until the circumference of the conductor could be inserted into the plug. The lacquer was strategically scraped from the portion of the conductor to allow full contact when inserted into the speakon connector. The fit was snug and the clamp on the speakon keeps the conductor held in place tightly. The rest of the assembly was a breeze.
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polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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Excellent!!!Political Correctness'.........defined
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