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how to figure out positive and negative wires

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Old 02-13-2001, 10:49 AM
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how to figure out positive and negative wires

hooked my stereo(deck) in car...adn the wires change color when they get next to the speaker....

now is ther anyway to figure out which is poositive wich is negative?
like say using a volt meter?
Old 02-13-2001, 12:10 PM
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The wire that has a stripe or is two colors is 95% of the time the negative. Unless someone has done modifying then I don't know how to tell.
Old 02-13-2001, 12:53 PM
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Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
If the wires were all stock, they would be the same color at both ends. Because somebody fooled with them, here are a couple solutions.

Touch one probe to the wire in the dash and the other probe to the other end of the wire at the speaker. You'll probably need to extend one or the other to reach. If you know + and - at one end, you'll be able to find it at the other end.

Another way is to do this: Hook the speaker up (1 way or the other) and touch the speaker wires at the dash to a 9 volt battery. Watch the speaker and see if it moves out or if it pulls in. If it pushes out, then you've got the + side of the speaker connected to the + side of the battery. If it pulls in, it's reversed. You can then hook it up to the radio accordingly.

Which ever method you choose, label it at both ends so you don't have to go through this next time.

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