Anyone Ran Speaker Wires Inside The Tower in 2015+ AR240s?

[swatski]

Let me know if I'm missing any posts on that (title). I have had nothing but awful experience in the past, even wonder if I should use the Nav light wiring -- to temporarily disconnect it and use it to thread the new harness w/Nav lights and speaker wire. How bad are these towers to run wire?

--

 

[haknslash]

Get yourself some of those fiberglass poles for running cable and wire. I still have my set from my car audio installer days and those things are a must have IMO.

Here's a set from Home Depot to give you an idea of them http://www.homedepot.com/p/Eagle-Tool-US-1-4-in-x-8-ft-Fiberglass-Fish-Rod-Kit-ETF2508/206505297?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-VF-PLA-D27E-Electrical|&gclid=CIu8hqG909ECFdgJgQodVPMH7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[swatski]

Get yourself some of those fiberglass poles for running cable and wire. I still have my set from my car audio installer days and those things are a must have IMO.

Here's a set from Home Depot to give you an idea of them http://www.homedepot.com/p/Eagle-Tool-US-1-4-in-x-8-ft-Fiberglass-Fish-Rod-Kit-ETF2508/206505297?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-VF-PLA-D27E-Electrical|&gclid=CIu8hqG909ECFdgJgQodVPMH7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks! - do you know if those will get through though? Never done that with the Yamaha OEM, but some aftermarket towers can be a mess on the inside.

--

 

[robert843]

I know @1948Isaac did as we had talked about I remember him saying it was a pain.

 

[swatski]

I know @1948Isaac did as we had talked about I remember him saying it was a pain.

Right. That's why I'm thinking of (temporarily) cannibalizing the Nav harness., LOL. I won't. But I'm just not looking forward to doing this...

--

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Im curious also, want to add tower speakers down the road. If anyone did do it please share your experience/tips. Thanks!

 

[swatski]

Im curious also, want to add tower speakers down the road. If anyone did do it please share your experience/tips. Thanks!

Just that you know, simple vacuum cleaner and yarn trick does not work in those towers, there are just too many snags inside.

--

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Just that you know, simple vacuum cleaner and yarn trick does not work in those towers, there are just too many snags inside.

--

And to add to that the the existing wires are on the forward tube of the tower. I want to add the speakers to the bigger rear tube, so got to go thru the cross tube that connects the 2 up top.

 

[haknslash]

Thanks! - do you know if those will get through though? Never done that with the Yamaha OEM, but some aftermarket towers can be a mess on the inside.

--

I don't know how it is with the tower on the 21' and 24' boats but the one on my boat is fairly open and not a lot of obstruction. Have you looked up inside yours to see if there is any obstructions? The fiberglass poles bend real easy and are very flexible yet strong enough to push/force things through. You would have to bend one more than 90 degrees to snap it and it's all we ever used to run wires in boats doing installs. I thought about installing speakers on mine but I'd be hitting my head on them lol.

 

[robert843]

If I remember correctly he said his biggest issue was where to run the wire out of the tower to the speakers I think he said there was not a real good point close to the speakers.

 

[Neutron]

And to add to that the the existing wires are on the forward tube of the tower. I want to add the speakers to the bigger rear tube, so got to go thru the cross tube that connects the 2 up top.

Only the center cross tube connects through to both front and rear tubes so it gets tricky to get to the left side.

 

[Emmett]

If the towers for the 242 LS and AR240 are the same, I ran speaker wires up the aft tube with fish tape. Drilled holes in the tube where I wanted the speakers to mount then pushed fish tape back down the tube. Took a few tries but was able to pull both wires up and out the top holes. It was tricky to pull wires out of the holes without pulling the wires off the fish tape.

 

[swatski]

If the towers for the 242 LS and AR240 are the same, I ran speaker wires up the aft tube with fish tape. Drilled holes in the tube where I wanted the speakers to mount then pushed fish tape back down the tube. Took a few tries but was able to pull both wires up and out the top holes. It was tricky to pull wires out of the holes without pulling the wires off the fish tape.

Thank you, that's very helpful.
May I ask if you are using conventional braces/ brackets to mount the speakers? Rings or flat?

--

 

[FloJet]

@swatski sent ya a PM on this. I have both of my rev 410s on the tower and adding led wires so have little knowledge of it. Also If you keep the tower wiring on the bar closest to bow area, you are clear all the way thru.

 

[FloJet]

Wait I have to double check my self this weekend. I think it's the bar closest to bow area lol

 

[Emmett]

Thank you, that's very helpful.
May I ask if you are using conventional braces/ brackets to mount the speakers? Rings or flat?

--

I used the swivel mounts from Wetsounds, so I guess they would be considered a ring or more of a clamp. They are pricey but I really liked the fact you can remove the speaker from the mount.

 

[FloJet]

Ok whenever I get the chance, I will take a photo of how my towers are put up. But until Spring here is what it was before we adjusted them to be close to each other as I like the look more. They are on a swivel mount.

 

[FloJet]

My friend thought he was cool with that setting. Just didn't look right. Now I have them more tilted up to. Good thing with the swivel mounts, you can play around with the location of it.

 

[swatski]

Ok whenever I get the chance, I will take a photo of how my towers are put up. But until Spring here is what it was before we adjusted them to be close to each other as I like the look more. They are on a swivel mount.

Holy cow.

 

[wallacerb]

Let me know if I'm missing any posts on that (title). I have had nothing but awful experience in the past, even wonder if I should use the Nav light wiring -- to temporarily disconnect it and use it to thread the new harness w/Nav lights and speaker wire. How bad are these towers to run wire?

--

I have tower speaker and I used a shop vacuum to suck it all through. Drill your holes and then use string in one end suck it through the upper hole. Leave enough out on the bottom hole to tie your speaker wire to and then pull the string and wire all the way out.. done.. Pretty simple.