low voltage DC wire polarity coding

[The Cobbler]

I've got a roll of old time speaker wire or low voltage I guess is more appropriate.it's about 22AWG stranded
the sheath is not marked in any way, but the strands are pure copper colour & copper with a silver twist in them.
I seem to be getting conflicting info on Google as to which is intended for + & which is intended for -.
I doesn't really matter I suppose as this is all going to be soldered up. I just would like to keep it correct.
Thanks

 

[mike93lx]

I always used the ribbed as negative

 

[The Cobbler]

there is no rib on the sheath. the conductors are pure copper and copper/silver twisted.

 

[mike93lx]

there is no rib on the sheath. the conductors are pure copper and copper/silver twisted.

Ah, my bad. I'd use the tinned for ground

 

[bwringer]

Ah, my bad. I'd use the tinned for ground

Same. I'm pretty sure that's what my Dad told me in some far off time and place, but I could not swear to it.

 

[BurtEggley]

solid copper is positive. Tinned is negative. That is how we did it in an audio shop years ago. White strip or ribbed when present is negative. Sometimes you will find a roll of speaker wire where one lead is fully tinned and the other is copper. The copper looks red compared to the tinned wire. Think of it that way - red is positive, making tinned negative.

 

[The Cobbler]

thanks guys! I was heading that way but just wanted some reassurance . here's the project, Tire of replacing the batteries in the clock at the warehouse.
yeah, maybe I have too much time on my hands! LOL

added a buck transformer to a 6Vdc wall-wart and ran it to the clock

 

[BurtEggley]

Good job - and when the power goes out? rechargeable batteries in it?

 

[PCustoms]

It really doesn't matter, as long as you're consistent within a run, but I've always used copper=red=positive

 

[PCustoms]

Good job - and when the power goes out?

Climb up and re-set it

 

[mike93lx]

Good job - and when the power goes out? rechargeable batteries in it?

 

[The Cobbler]

and when the power goes out

in about 4 yrs the power has never gone out for more than a few seconds, other than maybe 3 times where it's been off long enough to have to set a clock. I get notified from the alarm co that the power is off & again reinstated .
it seems like every 3 months I have to climb up & change them ... realistically it's not that often but I thought I'd give this a try .

 

[The Cobbler]

White strip or ribbed when present is negative.

Wal warts seem to have white striped as positive. ( based on 2 that I worked with today...
as per google

In most DC electronics (like wall adapters and small electronics), the wire with the white stripe or dashed line is positive (+), and the solid black wire is negative (-). However, this is not universal; always use a multimeter to verify polarity, especially in RV or specific audio applications where conventions may differ.
Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange +3
General Rules for White Stripe Polarity:

• DC Power Adapters: The striped wire is generally positive (+).
• Speaker Wire: The wire with the stripe or ridge is usually positive (+).
• Alternative Convention (Sometimes): In some specific systems, the solid color is positive, and the striped wire is negative.
• Best Practice: Use a multimeter to check the output, as color coding can vary by manufacturer

 

[BurtEggley]

and when the tinned wire also has a white stripe or rib?

 

[pancho400cid]

I just went through the same issues.

Short answer is it absolutely makes no difference electrically as long as you are consistent.

The general convention is:

Positive/red/copper

Negative/black/silver

...

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, The Identified conductor should be used as the Ground or Neutral.

 

[PCustoms]

IMHO, The Identified conductor should be used as the Ground or Neutral.

In this context, what does your post mean?

 

[nadogail]

In this context, what does your post mean?

The Identified conductor often has a White or Neutral Grey jacket. The other , non identified, conductor is often the Hot or Positive conductor.

 

[PCustoms]

The Identified conductor often has a White or Neutral Grey jacket.

Apparently you can't/didn't read the OP