Installation
Number of Speaker Pairs
First, determine the size of the listening area, and identify any gathering areas where folks will sit or stand. The typical coverage area is 20 feet from the front of the speaker for nor- mal listening levels. There should be a maxi- mum of 20 feet between speakers for better stereo imaging. Too far away from each other creates an acoustic void when used for stereo. Monaural will not be affected to the same degree.
Use as many pairs of speakers as needed to achieve the desired coverage and dispersion of sound. Getting more sound with more speakers is better than cranking the volume, which may lead to amp clipping. Large areas are better served by monaural audio instead of stereo. In most outdoor environments, there is no ideal listening area to give stereo image or separation.
Tools Needed for Installation
•Wire strippers
•Hacksaw or pipe cutter
•Spade or trench tool
•Direct burial rated speaker cable
(Polarity indication should be on the cable) 16AWG minimum - for distances up to 75ft. 14AWG - from 75 to 125 feet
12AWG - from 125 to 175 feet
•PVC conduit, cleaner and cement (optional)
•Silicone caulking
Planning Path for Cable Burial
First, consult your local phone and/or electric company to learn of existing buried cables or pipes. Watch for buried water lines or gas lines. If necessary, use a metal detector to
discover buried cables. Be aware of any local building code requirements that may be appli- cable.
Trenching and Burying Cable
To ensure proper installation of direct burial speaker cable, consult the manufacturer of the cable you are using, and adhere to all applicable electrical codes.
After positioning the speakers and determin- ing where any buried obstructions exist, you can dig the trench. Lay the cable out on top of the ground from the speaker to the outdoor volume control to determine length.
Make cable connections at the speaker. Be sure to observe polarity. Make connections at the amplifier, and test the system to see if everything is working properly.
Trench below the frost line for the cable. The frost line will vary depending on geography, and is typically no deeper than three feet.
If using conduit, size and cut it to length. Connect the conduit lengths and elbows with PVC cement. Ensure all electrical connections are watertight; seal with additional silicone if necessary. Run cable through the conduit.
Bury the cable or conduit in the trench, and leave an extra 3 feet of cable under the speaker to allow for future adjustments in position.
Seal the cable paths through structure walls with silicone.
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