Installing a potentiometer/volume control

[pghfrftr]

I brought a speaker from home to add a dispatch radio speaker to my office. I took a volume control/potentiometer from an existing speaker in the firehouse and put it inline to the speaker brought from home. As a volume control, it does lower the volume, but it is still to loud. The speaker I added is from an old DVD surround system. I am not technically knowledgable in this area. Is there something I can do to get this volume lower? Thank you for your help!!

[Keriwena]

What you need to do this properly is an L-pad.

This page might help:
L-PADS

[pghfrftr]

Thank you! I'll look into them!!

[pghfrftr]

From what I'm reading, it seems that I could ruin the amplifier for this dispatch radio if I choose the wrong "L-Pad. Is a real concern? If so, how do I find out how many ohms or watts etc. for the correct L-Pad?
Thank you!

[Cal Weldon]

Sounds like a small speaker you have at home so you probably could use a small variable L-Pad like the ones in the link. I would think even the 15W would do. Hook it up as they show you and not as a simple variable resistor and you should be fine.

Does the pot you have from the other speaker have 2 connection tabs or 3? If it has 3, you already have an L-pad. Hook up is easy. I'll see if I can find a diagram. If you amp accepts a 4 ohm load and you have 8 ohms speakers in parallel you're fine, just get an 8 ohm L-Pad.

http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...AT&srchCat=196

Hook-up here:

https://www.google.ca/search?q=L-Pad...BMX4igKVv4DYCw

[pghfrftr]

The Pot I am using has 3 connection tabs. Looking at the diagram, I can see what may be the problem. I am only using 2 of the connections, and I have it wired in line, like an on/off switch.
To make the wire run easier, I connected to an existing speaker on the same floor. Is there an easy way to tell which side is positive on the existing speaker? (Does it matter?) I don't recall seeing a plus sign on the strip I connected to. I just spliced onto the existing leads. Does this make a difference on the hookup to the L-Pad, since it is going back to the existing speaker and not the amp?
Thank you!!

[Keriwena]

No, the polarity shouldn't matter.

[Cal Weldon]

Keri is right, it doesn't matter if you have only one speaker. If you are curious, you can use a AA battery (or any 1.5V) and hook it up. Whichever terminal gives you outward cone motion when connected to the + on the battery, is the + on the speaker.

[pghfrftr]

Thanks for the help guys!! I really appreciate it! I go back to work tomorrow, and I'll work on your advise.

[pghfrftr]

Thanks guys!!! It works.