Sockets for Speakers

[Mark Webb]

I have a new electrical installation in a new build property.

The electrician has wired speakers to four areas and installed a central connection for them. The central connection consists of a bank of phono plug connections.

I have been told that phono connections are very low power and unsuitable for speaker connections.

I would appreciate some help with regard to what should have been installed.

 

[skippy]

I take it you've got some form of multichannel amp?

The best thing the sparky could've done, would've been to have left a coil of each speaker wire so you can go straight into the back of the amp?

May be better posting a piccie?

 

[skippy]

Or take it out and wire something like this in, in place of the phono block

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fisual-Hollywood-Satin-Chrome-Speaker/dp/B005DELNGS/ref=sr_1_43?ie=UTF8&qid=1393939900&sr=8-43&keywords=speaker+wall+plate

 

[GCE]

If you have passive spk:

Look at this banana socket: >>> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPEAKER-WALL-CABLE-PLATE-4-x-4mm-BANANA-SOCKET-OUTLET-/350804982905#ht_1447wt_722

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/4mm-banana-socket

the wire in the wall must be 2.5 sqmm;

the current intensity can reach 10 A or more (100 or more W)

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Low power phonos????? Hopefully as stated 2.5mm (or greater) wire. 4mm may have been better. Presumeably u need at least 5 + 1 channels unless its just for stereo.

 

[MajorFubar]

It's unusual to see phono-sockets used for speakers on anything since 80s/90s all-in-one midi/micro systems, but electrically there's no risk so long as you can competently solder a phono-plug without shorting the wires. Not brain-surgery by any means but I realise things like that are now classed as specialist skills (!!)

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Sorry op. Misread post. Major (& others) are right (ofcourse). Who would terminate with phono? U are sure they are phono and not banana? Providing the wire is ok then a banana plug outlet will be fine.

 

[Mark Webb]

Here is the bank of sockets. They definately dont take banana plugs.

 

[skippy]

If they're phono sockets you just need to change em out for these.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ebest-Audio-Speaker-Module-Banana-Solder/dp/B00FIKTLRK/ref=sr_1_39?ie=UTF8&qid=1393960862&sr=8-39&keywords=speaker+wall+plate

Think they're the snap in type

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Are they labelled? Where do the wires go? Is the wire adequate? RU in the uk?

Suggest u ease the plate off to check the wire guage. Then find where they go and label them. If all ok get some banana plugs and solderthem. I assume this plate is close to the position of your amp. Do you want 5.1, 7.1, multiroom or what? This is not a UK new build presumably?

Outlets to 4 arwas? 4 rooms u mean?

A curiously interesting issue !

 

[skippy]

Presume it's the UK with the electrical socket outlets.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

So we have 8 pairs of phonos on the bottom. 3 pairs above and a thick (mains?) cable on rhs.

Since phonos have live and earth connection, potentially they might connect 22 speakers. Or. are the phonos single wired, so only 11 speakers?

Was the electrician under the influence? Curiouser & curiouser

 

[Mark Webb]

Are they labelled? Where do the wires go? Is the wire adequate? RU in the uk?

Suggest u ease the plate off to check the wire guage. Then find where they go and label them. If all ok get some banana plugs and solderthem. I assume this plate is close to the position of your amp. Do you want 5.1, 7.1, multiroom or what? This is not a UK new build presumably?

Outlets to 4 arwas? 4 rooms u mean?

A curiously interesting issue !

Yes they are all labelled. The wires go to 4 rooms and yes wire will be adequate. I am in the UK and yes, this is a new build. I have contacted the electrician and told him to change the phonos for banana sockets.

I am not sure how to control the switching. I want 5.1 in the room where the sockets are which will be the main TV viewing room, then I have two speakers in the kitchen, two in the lounge and two for outside. I have two amps, so I am thinking that the best way will be to use one amp for the 5.1 and the other for the other rooms?

 

[Mark Webb]

Presume it's the UK with the electrical socket outlets.

Yes, UK new build property.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Your 2 amp plan makes sense. Switching can be done through the amp if it has A & B outputs but not to 3 areas as u seem to require. For that you would need a switch box which could be manual or wireless remote.

The photo doesnt show labels so I still dont understand the 8/3 layout. I wonder where the connections go to in the main area - is it set up for 5.1 or 7.1 etc?

Finally, the use of phono plugs is plainly wrong. As.I said before, they have 2 connections giving you potentially 22 speaker outlets. Or have the phono plugs been connected with only one wire. Again plainly wrong. Still puzzled by the thick mains llead too.

I would be asking yr sparky some questions.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Did you specify this & pay extra? Are the other room outlets phono? Can you take a room plate off and photograph the connextion & cable? Are the outlets in the right places? Is the wire for the sub the same as the other wires and is this phono wired the same as others?

I can only suggwst more photos to determine exactly what has been done. I can only think the whole installation is wrong and your sparky has no idea what he is doing. Hopefully I am wrong but the 'fit for purpose' phrase comes to mind.

 

[andyjm]

Your 2 amp plan makes sense. Switching can be done through the amp if it has A & B outputs but not to 3 areas as u seem to require. For that you would need a switch box which could be manual or wireless remote.

The photo doesnt show labels so I still dont understand the 8/3 layout. I wonder where the connections go to in the main area - is it set up for 5.1 or 7.1 etc?

Finally, the use of phono plugs is plainly wrong. As.I said before, they have 2 connections giving you potentially 22 speaker outlets. Or have the phono plugs been connected with only one wire. Again plainly wrong. Still puzzled by the thick mains llead too.

I would be asking yr sparky some questions.

Depending on how your sparky has wired the connectors (as mentioned above, a picture of the panel from the back would help) you could get away with using the phono connectors and save yourself a great deal of hassle swapping them out. Phonos aren't ideal as speaker connections, and you will have to make up some custom cables to connect to your amp, but they will work (depending on how yours are connected).

Although there is unlikley to be enough cable behind the phonos to pull through, ideally the speaker cables would be brought out through a brushplate or similar to be connected directly the amp's speaker terminals. A general rule is that all connections are bad, particularly with a low resistance load like a speaker and the number of connections should be minimised if possible.

 

[GCE]

Have you already payed the electrician...:?

 

[Mark Webb]

I havent paid the sparky yet and have insisted that they change to banana sockets.

Each phono is connected to one speaker with twin cable - 11 speakers.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Ah yes

 

[GCE]

I think that who made this work is a little donkey: as I said before the wire in the wall must be 2.5 sqmm;

the current intensity can reach 10 A or more (100 or more W) for power spk cable

and those RCA or Phono plug are good only for little electric signal at few mV and mA...:doh:

 

[andyjm]

I think that who made this work is a little donkey: as I said before

the wire in the wall must be 2.5 sqmm;

the current intensity can reach 10 A or more (100 or more W) for power spk cable

and those RCA or Phono plug are good only for little electric signal at few mV and mA...:doh:

Unfortunately, repeating the post doesn't make it correct.

RCA / phono plugs were used in the 80s as speaker connections on budget music centres and mini systems. They are not ideal as speaker connections, but good quality phono plugs / sockets have low contact resistance and can be rated as high as 500V. While I wouldn't recommend their use, if the O/P had no choice, they could certainly be made to work.

Without knowing the length of cable run, suggesting the appropriate cable thickness is impossible. 2.5 sq mm is not a bad start, but for very long runs it is likely to be inadequate for decent fidelity. If the O/P just wants to pipe musak to his kitchen and garden then it will do.

 

[MajorFubar]

Correct. I see no reason why they wouldn't work. Their current-handling capacity can't be a great deal different to XLR plugs which are used extensively in PA speakers in clubs and pubs to carry hundreds of Watts. Though they wouldn't be my first choice, and it's a very unusual default choice when the OP presumably didn't ask for phono-sockets.

 

[Tarxman]

I havent paid the sparky yet and have insisted that they change to banana sockets.

Each phono is connected to one speaker with twin cable - 11 speakers.

Ive seen this sort of thing happen far too often.

 

[Mark Webb]

Many thanks to you all