AM Radio Speaker

Discussion in 'Technical' started by CDL, Jan 9, 2015.

  1. CDL

    CDL Member

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    Does anyone know what ohms is the am radio speaker?

    Thanks
     
  2. BKelley

    BKelley Comet Enthusiast

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    The original 5 x 7 dash speaker ... according to the Ford Parts Manual, 70-71 was 8.0 ohm. 72 was 3.2 ohm..... ohms not listed for 73-77.
     
  3. CDL

    CDL Member

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    Ha - the radio I have is from a 1973..
     
  4. Crazy Larry

    Crazy Larry Member

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    Real easy to check with a ohm meter.
     
  5. CDL

    CDL Member

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    Really, ok do i turn on the radio and check ohms on the wires?
     
  6. injectedmav

    injectedmav Member

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    No, unplug the speaker and touch a meter lead one to one wire leading to the speaker and the other lead to the other and set your meter to 0-20 ohms and see what it reads. If it's auto-ranging, you just set it to ohms.
     
  7. CDL

    CDL Member

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    Oh ok but that would only work if I had a speaker. That was my question, really. What speaker should I buy for a Ford 1973 AM radio? 4 or 8 Ohm?
     
  8. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    I'd go with the 8 ohm, radio won't really care if it's rated for four ohms, but a eight ohm radio may not be happy with a four ohm speaker...

    BTW a speaker cannot really be measured accurately with the DC meter that we're all gonna have, generally going to read around 25-30% low...
     
  9. CDL

    CDL Member

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    I know this.. if the radio is rated 4 ohm and I use an 8 ohm, then the radio could overheat and damage internals, but if it's rated 8 ohm and I use a 4 ohm speaker, the sound won't be good but no damage to the radio.
     
  10. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Nope you got it backwards, 4 ohm is twice the load of 8...

    Yeah I know it may seem backwards but that's correct(I worked electronics for almost 40 years)...
     
  11. CDL

    CDL Member

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    Well I was close..hehe
     
  12. rotorr22

    rotorr22 Member

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    My '74 is 3.2 ohms also. Read it right off of the speaker.
     
  13. CDL

    CDL Member

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    Thanks i'll try that since a 72 and 74 is a 4 ohm
     

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