#WIRING RCA CONNECTOR HOW TO#
#WIRING RCA CONNECTOR PATCH#
#WIRING RCA CONNECTOR UPGRADE#

RCA type plugs are usually color coded red (right) and white (left) for stereo interconnection. RCA jacks are often used in phono inputs, a set of input jacks usually located on the rear panel of a preamp, mixer or amplifier, especially on early radio sets, to which a phonograph or turntable is attached. It is also called RCA phono connector or phono connector. The connectors male plug and female jack are called RCA plug and RCA jack.

They are named after the Radio Corporation of America, which introduced the design in the 1930s. Phono plugs, also known as RCA connectors, are a type of electrical connector commonly used to carry audio and video signals. Understanding Phono Plugs And RCA Connectors

#WIRING RCA CONNECTOR PATCH#

Now you can enjoy improved audio quality or create custom patch cords for your audio components.

Then remove from socket used to keep it together during soldering.Ĭongratulations! You’ve successfully wired your phono plug. Once all connections are soldered and cooled down enough to touch, form cable clamp around cable sheath and bring plug shell back and screw it to plug. Next, strip back a little of the center conductor, allowing for creep-back of insulation when wire is heated and soldered to pre-tinned inner pin. When this is soldered, excess can be trimmed off. The outer jacket should be gripped by the claw, so the shield braid needs to be twisted together to form a pigtail which can be formed around the outside of the ground connector with a pair of needle-nosed pliers. The amount of outer jacket that has to be removed can be measured, allowing for about 5mm of the inner conductor to go into the pin. Particularly with nickel-plated plugs, this needs a lot of heat, so tin the center pin first. The center pin of the plug is usually hollow, and it’s necessary to solder the center conductor of the screened cable to this. This can still soften when using the socket, but now the socket will keep the parts concentric. If a lot of heat is needed to tin the center pin, this softens and the pin ends up skewed relative to the ground connection, making the plug a bad fit. The reason to mate the plug with a socket is that the insulation holding the pin is a soft thermoplastic. Slide the plug shell and strain relief coil onto the cable first, resisting the temptation to use the socket on a piece of equipment. The cable retaining claw in the plug is often only good for a smaller diameter of about 2-3mm, so it’s best to select screened cable of 2-3mm diameter for most phono plugs.īefore wiring the plug, it’s a good idea to insert the metal part into a suitable RCA socket in a clamp. Keep in mind that phono plugs typically cannot accommodate thick audio cables with a diameter of more than 4mm without damaging the strain relief of the cable shell. When selecting a cable for your phono plug, it’s important to choose a screened audio cable.

#WIRING RCA CONNECTOR HOW TO#

So grab your soldering iron and let’s get started! How To Wire A Phono Plug In this article, we’ll guide you through the process step by step, from selecting the right cable to soldering the connections. With just a few tools and some basic knowledge, you can easily attach a phono plug to a length of wire and improve your audio experience. One of the simplest and most universal DIY projects is wiring a phono plug, also known as an RCA connector.

#WIRING RCA CONNECTOR UPGRADE#

Are you looking to upgrade your audio equipment or create custom patch cords?

Wiring rca connector