speaker testing

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:24

ThreadID: 37082 Views:1884 Replies:5 FollowUps:4

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Niffty

I'm trying to test my speaker in a 93 Mav/ patrol. I cant get any sound from my (one of) rear speakers and before pulling the dash apart I thought there may be an easy way to test the wiring.All other speakers are ok. I have so far pulled the door trim off and put a multi meter across the connections on the speaker, No action on the multi meter. Tried 12 volts then the next step down. So how do I test the speaker before the horrible job of pulling the console apart.Am I on the wrong track?
Thanks Niffty
Perth

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Reply By: Andrew-rodeo - Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:32

Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:32

Hi Niffty,
all you have to do is connect a AA battery to the speaker (only for a split second). or you could damage the speaker. The speaker should crackle and the cone will jump up. If you do this at the speaker and it works, try at the back of the radio if you know which wires.
Cheers Andrew.

AnswerID: 190842

Reply By: Steve from Albany - Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:33

Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:33

Niffty,
Set your multi meter to Ohms (Restance) Put the connections across the speaker. The reading if the speaker is ok will be 4 ohms or with some older speakers 8 ohms. If there is no reading then you have a dud speaker. If you are getting a reading then you need to look at the wiring to the speaker or the sound system.
Steve

AnswerID: 190843

Follow Up By: Leroy - Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:35

Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:35

it's impedence not resistance. you can't measre that with a meter.

Leroy

FollowupID: 448515

Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Friday, Aug 25, 2006 at 11:10

Friday, Aug 25, 2006 at 11:10

Technically you are correct, but if he has the meter set to low ohms he should still hear it cracke. It will either register as a near dead short or open circuit.

FollowupID: 448599

Reply By: Leroy - Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:34

Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:34

you could try the speaker that works in it's place!

Leory

AnswerID: 190844

Follow Up By: Steve from Albany - Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:55

Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 21:55

Leroy,
I stand corrected, how ever I was trying to keep it simple. Most people have an idea of what resistance is but if you start using terms like impedence, inductance or reactance than you have lost them. You can read the resistance (impedance) of a speaker on a multi meter. It may not be exact but to check if a speaker is open circuit or not then it is good enough
Cheers
Steve

FollowupID: 448519

Follow Up By: Footloose - Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 23:40

Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 at 23:40

Or he could use the continuity function of the multimeter if availiable.

FollowupID: 448532

Reply By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Friday, Aug 25, 2006 at 11:13

Friday, Aug 25, 2006 at 11:13

Another trick is to swap the speaker leads from the left hand speaker to the right hand speaker (and visa-versa). If the problem remains on the same side then it is the speaker, if it on the other side then it is the wiring or amp.

AnswerID: 190913