Waterproof Sound Cable

[tommulliner]

Hi There BR,

 

I am looking for some waterproof cable with speakon connectors. I have had alook at some online stores (Thoman, Stage LX) but I'm not sure on if the cables and connectors are waterproof or not (not mentioned in discriptions). They are for a perminant install at a local football club.

 

Any Help much apreciated.

 

Thanks,

Tom.

[Dj Dunc]

Are these being buried, or just run around outdoors? I.e youll need to be careful of little critters eating into them. Cable is waterproof except at the termination, so youll need to be careful that moisture doesnt sink in (perhaps use waterproof housings for connections?

[tommulliner]

Are these being buried, or just run around outdoors? I.e you'll need to be careful of little critters eating into them. Cable is waterproof except at the termination, so you'll need to be careful that moisture doesn't sink in (perhaps use waterproof housings for connections?

 

They're just being run outside. I've heared that Neutrik connectors are water sealed... is this true?

[jonathanhill]

SpeakON connectors have an IP54 rating for NL2 and NL4, and IP52 for NL8. All these ratings are when connectors are mated. I would take care with speaker cables and try to lay them in one run and make the loudspeaker connections appear on the bottom of a connection box to try and stop water ingress.

[Simon Lewis]

SpeakON connectors have an IP54 rating

 

The Speakon STX series have IP54 rating. With regards to the overall job, there are few loudspeakers that can be described as waterproof. Re-entrant horns are usually OK and may have cable entry glands. Standard cone based loudspeakers might manage a few seasons outside, but it's likely that corrosion, damp, mildew. insects etc. will eventually cause damage to the cone and / or cabinet.

 

For some applications plastic enclosures with treated cones can provide good weather resistance. The original plastic Bose boxes were often used in these situations, and several manufacturers now offer weather resistance. The devices that are truly water proof are Technomad boxes.

 

Most football club installations will put the speakers under a canopy to provide some form of protection, although this can mean access issues. I'm going to guess that the OP isn't refurbishing Wembley Stadium, so what size ground are we talking about, and what loudspeakers?

 

Simon

[Doug Siddons]

Always put a loop of cable directly underneath the point at which you plug the cable into the box so the cable is going uphill to the termination. Water will run down the cable and drop off at the lowest point not into the connection/termination. I have put a lot of plastic boxes in stadiums with waterproofed cones and they stand up very well

[tommulliner]

FAO: Simon Lewis: The speakers have already been choosen. They are some very old, nasty plastic looking speakers mounted inside the canopy of the stand, so they're not the problem, and as for the ground, it is a very small ground with a stand to hold about 100.

 

Thanks for all the help guys.

[Simon Lewis]

The speakers have already been choosen......it is a very small ground with a stand to hold about 100.

 

No problem then! As mentioned above, the STX Speakons are weather rated, but I suspect that the chassis connector needs to be the same seres. Might be worth checking. If you haven't already sorted out the cable, 2 core mains or YY type cable (~2.5mm² )will usually do the trick. Lastly, some non acetic acid cure silicone in and around the connector will help ensure a seal if you want to use the standard Speakons.