Best way to connect 2 runs of 12awg speaker wire?

Veccster
Veccster Posts: 10
edited October 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I am running 80 feet of 12awg speaker wire to connect an outdoor speaker. The wire is running through my attic and will not very accessible once laid. I have 2 lengths of wire that I plan to use - 50ft and 30ft. What is the best way to connect them together?

It doesn't have to be the BEST way out there...it's still an outdoor speaker :) I just don't want it coming loose over time and deteriorating the sound. The wire is terminated at the other ends using banana plugs.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited October 2008
    Cut your wires so one leg is longer than the other(on each cable), and solder them together. Wrap the whole thing with electrical tape. This way no matter what there is no chance of a short because the joints are not over lapping.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited October 2008
    solder
    TNRabbit
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited October 2008
    Add one more vote for solder. Looks like the solders have it.
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  • Veccster
    Veccster Posts: 10
    edited October 2008
    Does it matter the kind of solder I use? I believe I have lead solder wire at home.

    To do this, I will just wrap one wire around the other (like a candy cane) and drip the solder on it to seal it. I'll wrap everything up in electrical tape as well.
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  • Veccster
    Veccster Posts: 10
    edited October 2008
    Here's a great video for noobs on how to solder:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLfXXRfRIzY
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited October 2008
    Solder, like everyone else said, but before you put on electrical tape, use heat shrink wrap. You can get it from radioshack and it'll seal better than electrical tape. If you don't have a heat gun you can still get it to shrink by holding it very close to your soldering iron (but not touching). THEN wrap the whole thing in electrical tape.
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  • Veccster
    Veccster Posts: 10
    edited October 2008
    I have a heat gun and will pick up some shrink wrap as well.

    Thanks again!
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  • Eric W
    Eric W Posts: 556
    edited October 2008
    12 AWG is a pain to solder cause of the amount of metal. You need a fairly beefy soldering iron.

    Also- hairdryers work well for shrinking heatshrink :)
    -Eric
    -Polk Audio
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited October 2008
    I agree, very hard to solder correctly. With wire that heavy, I usually use a crimp connection, you will need a set of real crimpers to do this well, then solder each side. Cover with heatshrink tubing, no need for electrical tape on top of that.
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    Use a twist on wire connector like you would to wire an outlet.
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  • vonnie123
    vonnie123 Posts: 326
    edited October 2008
    solder and heat shrink is best. If you don't have soldering equiment use a crimp style butt end splice then heat shrink. Different spaced lengths for +/- as Ben said is best. Any sun exposure?
    [
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  • Veccster
    Veccster Posts: 10
    edited October 2008
    I was wondering if the thickness would make it more difficult to solder. My iron is pretty old but I'm going to give it a go. The total length is 80ft so I needed to use a thick wire like 12g.

    The wire will be run behind my house siding and will have no sun exposure. Once hidden, the wire will not be disturbed and the connection should remain tight.

    Thanks again for the assistance.
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