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Then you don't need connectors at all.

Go to a hardware store, buy #12 or #14 zip cord (lamp cord), strip the ends and slip 'em in. Cheap, works just as well. And you can buy the exact # of feet you need.

navychop said:

Then you don't need connectors at all.

Go to a hardware store, buy #12 or #14 zip cord (lamp cord), strip the ends and slip 'em in. Cheap, works just as well. And you can buy the exact # of feet you need.

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Poke probably thought you were talking dirty there.

As has been mentioned, there are several kinds of connectors used. I doubt if you will find much with the connectors already made for what You likely have.

The most common is banana plugs. These are round plugs, about 1/4 inch in diameter that have springy reliefs on the plug. You can buy these at Radio shack or an electronics supplier. You can either get them solder in, or with a set screw. If you have banana plugs, this is the easiest. The female end is generally what we call a 5-way socket. You can plug the banana plug in directly, unscrew them to insert either a pin plug (more later), a spade terminal (ditto) or just bare wire. When you unscrew them there is a hole in the screw part for bare wire or pin plug.

One nice thing about banana plugs is that the females tend to be at a common spacing. You can buy a 2 pin banana plug with screw terminals that works like gangbusters. These were used a lot in engineering labs for voltmeters and such.

Low end stuff tends to use spring clips. This has a small lever and a hole to put bare wire into. No plugs work here. They are designed for bare wire only.

next is screw terminals These look like two screws on a bakelite panel. Not used very often anymore. Most people just wrap the wire around the screw, but you can buy a spade lug. Spade lugs look like this =C
The bad news here is that you will need to get out your soldering iron and crimper to use them. Radio shack still has them.

Pin plugs are like banana plugs except thinner and don't have the springy tensioner. Think 1/16 inch diameter. The plugs for these are generally solder in as well. They don't hold very well, and are very fragile for in wall installations.

There is a large spade connector that works with the 5 way sockets. Looks the same, only bigger. Monster used to sell cables with these ends on them. There were also banana to spade adapters available. Don't know if they are still available.

Don't most late model screw plugs have a hole in the end so one can plug a banana plug in? This is how I wired my speakers to my Onkyo.

Dirtydan said:

Don't most late model screw plugs have a hole in the end so one can plug a banana plug in? This is how I wired my speakers to my Onkyo.

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Yeah, that's the 5 way socket I described above.

I don't recommend spade connectors like the =c ones, if you can get away with one of the =o ones then it's OK, otherwise just wrap the wires around the end. The =c kind come off very easily.

Actually, wrapping the wire around it eliminates connections furthermore and is probably still the best way to go.

Andrewwski said:

I don't recommend spade connectors like the =c ones, if you can get away with one of the =o ones then it's OK, otherwise just wrap the wires around the end. The =c kind come off very easily.

Actually, wrapping the wire around it eliminates connections furthermore and is probably still the best way to go.

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Are we talking about 5 way posts or the smaller and older screw terminals? I agree on screw terminals. The only downside is that the screw must be completely removed in order to remove the cable.

With the 5 way posts, I kind of agree. The better spade lugs have the ends tipped up so that they won't slide out unless the terminal is fully unscrewed. If you use bare wire, you end up with fraying problems. A better solution is to tin the end and then stick it through the hole in the post, basically creating a pin connector. However IMHO the best overall solution is to use the banana plug, especially the ganged and keyed one, like this one:
Parts Express:Gold Plated Dual Banana Plug Black