Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
I've had two failures in two weeks now with my speakon jacks. Do you guys just use the screws with them or take the screws out and solder the wires in? (12 gauge wire)
2X OTop 112, 3012HO, melded - 2X T39, 27", Lab 12 - XF 212 - 4 DR250, 2 melded, 2 straight
2 20" T39 3012LF - WH10 - WH8 - in the shop - 2 more 20" T39s
http://saltandlighteureka.org still need a trailer
2 20" T39 3012LF - WH10 - WH8 - in the shop - 2 more 20" T39s
http://saltandlighteureka.org still need a trailer
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Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
Tin the wires and use the supplied screws is what I do...
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...
- Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
Tinning is what can cause the screws to loosen. Bare copper deforms under pressure, allowing the screws the best possible grip. Tinned copper is too hard to deform under the pressure of the screw, so it doesn't grip as well.Grant Bunter wrote:Tin the wires and use the supplied screws is what I do...
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Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
I screw 'em in with no solder. The only time I've ever had one come apart was when someone was "helping" me tear down after a benefit.ripNdeb wrote:I've had two failures in two weeks now with my speakon jacks. Do you guys just use the screws with them or take the screws out and solder the wires in? (12 gauge wire)
6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210
"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."
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Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
This.Bill Fitzmaurice wrote:Tinning is what can cause the screws to loosen. Bare copper deforms under pressure, allowing the screws the best possible grip. Tinned copper is too hard to deform under the pressure of the screw, so it doesn't grip as well.Grant Bunter wrote:Tin the wires and use the supplied screws is what I do...
In some cases I'll tin the very tip, just to keep the strands together, but that has to be done with great care, lest the capillary forces fill the entire length.
I'll often double the thickness by folding, or even triple it for maximum contact and grip. My teacher in the military service taught me that.
In build order:
O12 with no tweeter.
3 x WedgeHorns.
2 x Jack 10 without tweeters.
2 x DR250.
2 x 16" T39
1 x Tuba 24
2 x SLA Pro (sort of...)
O12 with no tweeter.
3 x WedgeHorns.
2 x Jack 10 without tweeters.
2 x DR250.
2 x 16" T39
1 x Tuba 24
2 x SLA Pro (sort of...)
Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
That was my first failure. They just slipped out because of the tinning there was probably only one place to hold it exactly where it needed to be held. I since have stripped off about a quarter inch or a little less, just enough to get the wire into the bottom. But, yesterdays Easter Service produced a crackling in the right side. When it was over I jiggled the wires at all points and the one that was plugged into the amp was the culprit; tried different channels, switched channels, jiggled the cable at the jack which seemed to make the problem worse or better at times. It was an odd problem since crackling is not usually a cable issue; it's either on or it's off. I'm getting out the magnifying glass today. arrgghh, [bad language]Grant Bunter wrote:Tin the wires and use the supplied screws is what I do...
2X OTop 112, 3012HO, melded - 2X T39, 27", Lab 12 - XF 212 - 4 DR250, 2 melded, 2 straight
2 20" T39 3012LF - WH10 - WH8 - in the shop - 2 more 20" T39s
http://saltandlighteureka.org still need a trailer
2 20" T39 3012LF - WH10 - WH8 - in the shop - 2 more 20" T39s
http://saltandlighteureka.org still need a trailer
- Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
By pulling on the cable without unlocking the connector I'm sure.Bruce Weldy wrote: The only time I've ever had one come apart was when someone was "helping" me tear down after a benefit.
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Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
Yeah, he seemed to be amazed that after 3 or 4 good yanks, it wouldn't come out.Bill Fitzmaurice wrote:By pulling on the cable without unlocking the connector I'm sure.Bruce Weldy wrote: The only time I've ever had one come apart was when someone was "helping" me tear down after a benefit.
Quite often, people come up the stage and offer to help....but honestly, it takes longer to tell 'em what to do than to just do it.
And I sure as hell don't want someone else rolling up my cables.
6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210
"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."
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Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
On the newer speakons with the silver metal latch I've had the wires pull out until I figured out a little trick. I unscrew the screw almost all the way out then using an awl I bend the plate as far in as I can then put the wire in and tighten. If I don't bend the plate in I don't get a tight connection.
Built:
17" width 10" driver Autotuba
2 x 29" width dual Lab12 Tuba60
6 x DR250 2510/asd1001
In progress:
2 x DR250 2510/asd1001
For best results, point the loud end of the array towards the audience
17" width 10" driver Autotuba
2 x 29" width dual Lab12 Tuba60
6 x DR250 2510/asd1001
In progress:
2 x DR250 2510/asd1001
For best results, point the loud end of the array towards the audience
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- Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:37 am
- Location: New Braunfels, TX
Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
Just loosening the set screw all the way allows enough room to get 12ga wire all the way to the bottom.CoronaOperator wrote:On the newer speakons with the silver metal latch I've had the wires pull out until I figured out a little trick. I unscrew the screw almost all the way out then using an awl I bend the plate as far in as I can then put the wire in and tighten. If I don't bend the plate in I don't get a tight connection.
Of course, cranking the strain relief really, really tight keeps it all safe too.
6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210
"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."
Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
Whenever possible I solder.
I realize a good crimped or screwed connection can be quite solid, but I've seen a number of them fail or loosen over time, and never seen one of my solder joints fail through any fault of it's own.
I see it as an extra 5 minutes for never having to worry about it again (besides I make most of my own cables)
I realize a good crimped or screwed connection can be quite solid, but I've seen a number of them fail or loosen over time, and never seen one of my solder joints fail through any fault of it's own.
I see it as an extra 5 minutes for never having to worry about it again (besides I make most of my own cables)
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meyers at my job, BFM for my system
2x 24" T48 with 3015lf
2x DR250 with 2510 and melded array
Other hardware comes and goes, but these speakers stay.
meyers at my job, BFM for my system
2x 24" T48 with 3015lf
2x DR250 with 2510 and melded array
Other hardware comes and goes, but these speakers stay.
- Chris_Allen
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- Location: Huddersfield, UK
Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
I often accept assistance to move stuff to the van, I can keep the doors open then as someone is often always near it but never the cabling.Bruce Weldy wrote:Quite often, people come up the stage and offer to help....but honestly, it takes longer to tell 'em what to do than to just do it.
I think everyone is funny about how their cables are 'managed'.
Built:
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
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Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
Not so much funny as serious .Chris_Allen wrote: I think everyone is funny about how their cables are 'managed'.
A properly wound cable will unwind perfectly with no loops and will lay down nice and flat (if you start with good cable). All of my cables get over-under wrapping - speaker, mic, power, even my snake.
Everything lays flat and stores much easier.
The band I work with has their own system and they are cable pigs....sloppy, sloppier, sloppiest. I finally quit trying with them - I have all the cables for the PA under my control - they can wrap their mic cables around their arm if they want....as long as I don't have to deal with 'em next time.
Build 'em yourself with quality cable and connectors - then wrap 'em right and they will last forever. I can't remember the last time I had a cable failure on my rig. But, I'm fixing stuff all the time those other guys.
6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210
"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."
Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
+1
Cable management is very important to a well-managed system.
I think the worst example I've seen was when I was working video at a venue, and the client brought in a 'friend who had a sound system'
They had some decent speakers, powered QSC boxes, and a high end DJ console, but they had very little practical knowledge about any sort of audio systems.
For their style of cable management, cables were coiled around the arm, then just pulled out (not uncoiled) Too many kinks? They had a solution for that too...
Two guys, each one grabs an end and hauls.
That was painful to watch.
Cable management is very important to a well-managed system.
I think the worst example I've seen was when I was working video at a venue, and the client brought in a 'friend who had a sound system'
They had some decent speakers, powered QSC boxes, and a high end DJ console, but they had very little practical knowledge about any sort of audio systems.
For their style of cable management, cables were coiled around the arm, then just pulled out (not uncoiled) Too many kinks? They had a solution for that too...
Two guys, each one grabs an end and hauls.
That was painful to watch.
---------------------------
meyers at my job, BFM for my system
2x 24" T48 with 3015lf
2x DR250 with 2510 and melded array
Other hardware comes and goes, but these speakers stay.
meyers at my job, BFM for my system
2x 24" T48 with 3015lf
2x DR250 with 2510 and melded array
Other hardware comes and goes, but these speakers stay.
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- Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: Speakons; Just use the screws or solder them?
Bruce Weldy wrote:And I sure as hell don't want someone else rolling up my cables.
its even worse with data cables over 50' that have to get run, or coax rg6.