How to Make Homemade RCA Cables
The RCA audio cable is a standard that is universally used for transferring audio signals from one device to the other. It has been around so long that it is available at most places that sell audio accessories. Making your own RCA audio cable will not save you money compared to buying one commercially, but it will provide a sense of accomplishment and give you a direct link back to the pioneers who first created it. The procedure requires a bit of dexterity and attention to detail.
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Things You'll Need
- Fine silver conductive wiring
- Wire snippers
- Nylon film handler's gloves
- Steel wool
- PTFE spaghetti tubing
- Solder
- Soldering iron
- Red marker
- Spade pin
- Cardas Silver RCA Plugs
- Electrical tape
Instructions
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1
Put on the nylon gloves. Using the wire snippers, cut the fine silver conductive wiring to the necessary length for the RCA cable. Cut another wire that is the same length as the first.
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2
Hold the wire in one hand and polish the wire in a straight line motion using the steel wool.
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3
Cut the PTFE spaghetti tubing to the same length as the wire. Insert the two wires into the PTFE spaghetti tubing so that some of each wire protrudes from both ends.
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4
Mark one wire on both ends with the red marker to indicate that it is the "plus" wire. The unmarked wire is the "neutral" wire.
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5
Bend the ends of the wires at both sides into a small loop. Solder a spade pin to the loops of both wires. Then solder a Cardas silver RCA plug to either end with the "plus" wire going into the center pin of the plug and the "neutral" wire on the plug's outer ring.
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6
Wrap electrical tape around the plug where it meets the tubing on both sides. The RCA cable is complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Work in a clean area with plenty of light.
Soldering the connections incorrectly will render the RCA cable useless.
