How to tell which lead is ground and which is hot

[Dick Sorensen]

Just got an external speaker for my VHF. Need to connect the plus to plus and ground to ground...the speaker only has two wires moulded together...one has a white stripe on it...the other doesn't.....which one is hot? thanks.

 

[Beefer]

Re: How to tell which lead is ground and which is hot

This will certainly be corrected by those that know for sure, but I always thought the one with the stripe was the hot on speakers. I also tend not to pay attention to it, and just hook the wires up any old way on speakers. Never had a speaker that I had to re-wire after 30 yrs, they always seem to work.

 

[NYBo]

Re: How to tell which lead is ground and which is hot

With a single speaker it doesn't really matter much. And neither is really the "hot" lead: the output is essentially alternating current.

 

[Dick Sorensen]

Re: How to tell which lead is ground and which is hot

Thanks....the reason I asked was that the vhf radio mfr (uniden) describes their ACC cable 6 leads with two of them for external speakers...one positive and one labeled external speaker ground....but I only have one speaker (am old and can't hear the one that's built into the unit without going into neutral)....so I'll give it a go! Thanks again.