How to make an interconnect Step by Step With Pics - Page 17 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

brschmid · 07-17-2004, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by appar111

Whoops, I forgot you need to add in your local zip code for that site. It's just an inexpensive AW Sperry multimeter, yellow. I figure that's gonna be the most expensive part of the initial setup to start making cables.

But once I get started, I'm sure it will be addictive. Just begs the question-- how many cables do I really need around the house?

now you are thinking...when i get my new reciever for my HT, i am going to be building all new cables for that too.....

haycheng · 07-20-2004, 07:08 AM

it is a very informative guide. I am very ignorance about cable and other DIY stuffs though. I still do not understand the idea of grounding(isnt the purpose of grounding is to provide a shorten path to release the charge, netural the potential different in order to avoid shock?). Is there any good book or internet site that I can get more information on electronic stuffs.

widds2v · 07-31-2004, 03:14 AM

Couple questions, does the canare starquad fit in the canare F12s perfectly or is it too loose/tight? Secondly what size techflex would you use for that... 1/8 or 1/4"? Thirdly where are you guys finding the cool colors! Everything I find is plain colors except the fire retardent stuff which has some "tracers" on it.

sanaka · 08-04-2004, 01:22 PM

Just to settle the "use the white wires for signal" thing regarding Canare Star Quad:

The reason given for this, originally by Ebonyks, was because the dielectric properties of PVC insulation are degraded by coloring agents. So, white = no color, therefore no degradation, therefore better for signal.

For one thing, this assumes that that pure, bright white you see on two of the wires is the natural color of PVC. I'm not sure that's so. If it's not, the white insulators have colorants just like the blue ones.

Much more importantly, as pointed out by fiddler, Canare Star Quad doesn't use PVC insulation. See their web page here. Indeed the jacketing of the cable, which affects (or not) all 4 conductors equally, is PVC. But the insulation on the conductors themselves is shown as "IPE," presumably irradiated polyethylene, a better dielectric material.

So the "use white for signal" issue, whether or not one believes it would make a difference for PVC insulation, is moot for Canare Star Quad.

Peace,
Sanaka

drewd · 08-04-2004, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by widds2v

Couple questions, does the canare starquad fit in the canare F12s perfectly or is it too loose/tight? Secondly what size techflex would you use for that... 1/8 or 1/4"? Thirdly where are you guys finding the cool colors! Everything I find is plain colors except the fire retardent stuff which has some "tracers" on it.

The starquad fits perfectly in the F12s. So perfectly, in fact, that if you want to use techflex over it, you won't be able to use the metal strain reliefs.

If you use 1/8" techflex, then more of the color of the cable will show through. If you use 1/4" techflex, the techflex color will be the predominant color.

Parts Express has a range of colors of techflex. Look here .

Also, if you buy some, do yourself a favor and buy the $9 hot knife, too. Techflex has this miraculous property of unraveling very quickly if you cut it with scissors. Resist the temptation to cut it with your soldering iron - it'll gunk up the tip like you wouldn't believe!

-Drew

brschmid · 08-08-2004, 01:15 AM

i use my old Rat shack iron to cut techflex and shrink heatshrink.

redshifter · 08-19-2004, 11:41 PM

don't laugh, but instead of buying a multimeter, couldn't i simply put one end of the wire on a 9 volt battery, and touch the other end to my tongue to determine which is left and right?

also, the links to the right angle 1/8" plugs are wrong. does anyone know one supplier where i can get starquad cable, flextech, right angle 1/8" plugs, wire tools and good solder?

thanks.

Megaptera · 08-20-2004, 03:33 AM

You could do that, Red, but I don't know how comfortable I would be with the possibility of shorting a 9V battery through my tongue. I would maybe use a small light bulb instead. However, if you're interested in making more than one set of cables, even a really cheap Radio Shack multimeter will make things much easier -- plus it'd be one more tool you've already got in case you want to try something more complicated, like amps or space shuttles.

Regarding suppliers, check Pacific Radio. I don't know for a fact that they have wire tools, but they'll definitely have the other things you're looking for. Wire tools are common enough that you could probably find them at any local store that sells hardware -- I wouldn't be surprised to see them in CVS or some such place.

redshifter · 08-20-2004, 06:09 AM

it's how i've always checked batteries... i guess that explains some things...

thanks! i'll check it out for those supplies.

hottyson · 08-20-2004, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by redshifter

don't laugh, but instead of buying a multimeter, couldn't i simply put one end of the wire on a 9 volt battery, and touch the other end to my tongue to determine which is left and right?

DON'T LAUGH! You have got to be kidding! How could I not laugh when I read that? Thanks for the good one. I needed that!

heehee