Banana Plugs don't fit.........now what? (1 Viewer)

[DerekM]

I just purchased a spool of 12guage speaker wire, and brought it home to find out that it's too big to fit in my speaker terminals, and the receiver's terminals also. I went to Radio Shack, and picked up some crimping banana plugs, but those are too big as well. I really hope that someone can tell me what to do, because as of now, I'm sitting with a spool of wire that I can't use. Any input is appreciated. Thanks, Derek.

 

[Bob McElfresh]

What kind of connections do you have on your receiver for speaker wires? Do you have the spring-clip style?

If so, go back to Radio Shack and buy the 2-piece MegaCable Pin connectors. These will take 12 ga and give you a pin for the spring clips.

 

[DerekM]

I guess it is called spring clip.......It's just a basic terminal where you depress the lever to open, slip the wire in, and lock it back. So I need a pin connector? Is the Radio Shack version just as good as the Monster Cable? Are these pins small enough to fit? I think that the most the terminal can take is the equivalent of 14-16 gauge wire. Thanks for the help!

 

[Bob McElfresh]

Yes, the pin connectors are about the only way to get 12 ga wire to fit in the little clips.

Get the good Radio Shack pins - the ones that un-screw into 2 parts. Shove wire up the back end, fold copper over and screw down the banana part to crush the copper. Make sure NO copper strands stick out to cause a short.

 

[DaveHo]

IMHO, I think you are better off removing some of the outer strands from the wire until it fits into the spring clip. This will certainly make a better connection. The contact area of those pin connectors is very, very small.

-Dave

 

[Chu Gai]

if it's a snug fit with the pin, you'll find the contact area is greater using the pin...not that it's a big thing in either case.

 

[Stacey]

My friend has the Rad-Shack pin connectors for his amp and they seem to work just fine.

Never try to shove a big wire into these "locking" terminals as this same friend of mine did just that and almost ruined the clips (they wouldn't lock but I fixed the problem).