Re: Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ??

Tweakers' Asylum

Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ.

4.41.184.40

In Reply to: Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ?? posted by Jack Bean on September 24, 2001 at 03:52:36:

This do get confusing, to say the least.
The convention still used in text books (DC current flow from + to -) is WRONG. Electrons are negatively charged and therefore flow from the - pole of a battery or DC power supply to the + pole.
HOWEVER, you asked specifically about "SIGNAL FLOW" , NOT about DC or AC current flow. Audio signals flow from the POSITIVE (HOT) pole or signal line to the NEGATIVE (GROUND) pole or line. When connecting signal lines to loudspeakers ALWAYS connect the + signal line to the + terminal of the Speaker (usually marked in red) and the - signal line to the other terminal. If you do not do so the speaker will be operating out of phase (absolute phase IS plainly audible). This is to say that a + signal input to a loudspeaker should make the diaphragm of the speaker move FORWARD, and a - pulse should make the diaphragm move BACKWARD. If in doubt about the terminals of a loudspeaker you can easily check this with a single 1.5v battery & battery holder (from Radio Shack, etc.) and a couple of lengths of hook-up wire. Put a battery in the holder and connect about 6" of wire to each terminal of the holder. The lead from the - pole of the battery should be terminated w/an alligator clip. TO TEST for POLARITY : connect the alligator clip (- battery lead) to one terminal and touch the other lead to the other speaker terminal while observing the diaphragm of the speaker. You will hear a "click" and the diaphragm will move either forward or backward. If the diaphragm moves forward when the circuit is completed that is the + terminal of the speaker, if it moves rearward it is the - terminal.
Happy Listening !

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

VH Audio

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ?? - Jack Bean 03:52:36 09/24/01 (6)

Re: Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ?? - pkell44 15:22:58 10/02/01 (0)

Re: Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ?? - Jon Risch 08:26:48 09/24/01 (1)

Thank you all! (nt) - Jack Bean 18:24:00 09/24/01 (0)

Re: Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ?? - bart 05:00:44 09/24/01 (1)

Re: Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ?? - tomahack 18:45:48 09/30/01 (0)

Re: Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ?? - Peter 04:56:06 09/24/01 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Newbie question: signal flows from negative to positive ?? - pkell44 15:22:58 10/02/01 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.