Zašto se pjenasti prstenovi zvučnika automobila oštećuju i kako ih popraviti?
Ne tako davno, odmah nakon što sam u svoj automobil ugradio nove zvučnike na vratima, morao sam izvaditi jedan i popraviti prsten od pjene.
Srećom, nije trebalo dugo prije nego što je zvučnik popravljen i vraćen u auto, pa sam pomislio da bi mogla biti dobra ideja napisati članak o popravljanju okruženja zvučnika.
Općenito, za popravak manjih oštećenja na okolnom prstenu ispunite oštećeno mjesto elastičnim silikonskim ljepilom. Veća oštećenja i pukotine prekrijte tankim flasterom kako biste dobili dodatnu čvrstoću. U slučaju većih oštećenja ili poderanih okolnih alki, može biti potrebno zamijeniti cijelu alku novom.
U članku u nastavku pokazat ću vam kako popraviti slomljeni pjenasti prsten zvučnika automobila kako biste kasnije mogli dulje uživati u slušanju omiljene glazbe.
Što je prsten od pjene za zvučnike i čemu služi?
Pjenasti prsten je dio ovjesa zvučnika koji radi kao kompletan paket s membranom i paukom. I surround i pauk na dnu zvučnika drže konus u središnjem položaju koji jamči slobodno kretanje glasovne zavojnice unutar magnetskog otvora.
Glasovna zavojnica mora se kretati samo u smjeru gore-dolje bez ikakvih bočnih pomaka, zato je ključno držati konus ravno.
Oštećenje okoline s jedne strane, pogotovo kada je veće od pukog uboda, uzrokuje malo pomicanje stošca prema jačoj strani. Kao posljedica toga, budući da glasovna zavojnica u vašem zvučniku više nije paralelna s unutrašnjosti magneta, počinje se pomicati s jednom stranom preblizu magnetu i možete čuti zujanje.
Ovaj položaj može još više oštetiti glasovnu zavojnicu. U ekstremnim slučajevima može trljati o magnet i može se potpuno uništiti. Također zapamtite, ne puštajte zvučnike s pokvarenim okvirima.
Okolina od pjene se relativno brzo troši, može proći nekoliko godina, ovisno o okolini u vašem automobilu prije nego što je budete trebali popraviti.
Zvučnici više kvalitete koriste gumene ili vlaknaste okvire koji mogu trajati mnogo dulje od pjene ili papira, ali se također mogu mehanički oštetiti.
Kako popraviti pokidani okvir zvučnika?
Ne samo da se oštećuju membrane zvučnika, često se dogodi da se zvučnik počne trgati ili je nešto probušeno kroz tanku gumicu na rubu.
Ako se bilo što od ovoga dogodi, ne morate trošiti novac na nove zvučnike, a slično kao i oštećene membrane, postoje jednostavni načini da popravite okolinu.
Nije bitno koji materijal prstena imaju vaši zvučnici kada su oštećeni. Možete čuti lelujajući zvuk, posebno na bas zvučnicima koji imaju velike vibracije. Čak i mala posjekotina ili ubod može dodatno oštetiti zvučnik, pa ga pokušajte popraviti čim ga vidite.
Okvir zvučnika može se popraviti u roku od nekoliko minuta ako je oštećenje malo, na primjer, vidite poderani rub ili probušenu pjenu ili gumu. Za veće prekide, možda ćete morati zamijeniti cijeli okvir.
U nastavku ćete pronaći vodič korak po korak za oba scenarija, krenimo naprijed i započnimo s jednostavnim popravcima.
Kako popraviti surround zvučnika?
Za popravak oštećene pjene ili gumenih prstenova zvučnika ne trebaju vam nikakvi posebni alati. Upotrijebite nož s oštricom, skalpel ili par škara. Kao ljepilo, nedavno sam upotrijebio ljepilo za popravak zvučnika Parts Express, i brtvljenje je bilo odlično.
Ali ako dođe do bušenja ili veće pukotine, učinili ste još nekoliko koraka da popravite zvučnik.
Prvi korak za popravak pjenastog ili gumenog prstena je čišćenje ovog područja. Koristim standardni odstranjivač laka za nokte i savršeno čisti gumice i pjeni se.
Kada je pjena čista s obje strane, preokrenite zvučnik i ostavite ga da sjedne na okolinu. Ovaj položaj je izvrstan jer težina zvučnika pomaže da oba dijela koje želite zalijepiti budu zajedno.
Ako radite na većem wooferu koji ima velike pomake membrane, dobro je prekriti ovo područje dodatnom zakrpom. Za izradu samo upotrijebite tanku pjenu i odrežite mali komad koji će pokriti oštećenje.
Uzmite malo silikona i pokrijte cijelo oštećeno područje, ali ne stavljajte previše. Prekrijte i flaster ljepilom i zalijepite ga na prsten.
Ne ostavljajte praznine na rubovima, a ako ih primijetite, dodajte još ljepila kako biste temeljito popunili praznine. Sada ste gotovi s donjom stranom, pa preokrenite zvučnik i položite ga na magnet.
Ponovite postupak na gornjoj strani zvučnika. Ispunite rupu ili pukotinu tankim slojem ljepila, a zatim zalijepite flaster na prsten.
Malo pritisnite popravljeno područje, možete trljati prstom po flasteru.
Kada završite, ostavite zvučnik preko noći na prozračenom mjestu da se potpuno osuši. Ponekad se može sušiti i duže, ovisi o korištenom ljepilu. U rijetkim slučajevima, možda ćete morati pričekati 48 sati.
Kako zamijeniti surround zvučnike?
Složenije je zamijeniti cijeli okolni disk, ali ne brinite, ovo je također jednostavno ako slijedite korake pravilnim redoslijedom.
#1. Odrežite prsten s ruba stošca. Pazite da to učinite nježno kako ne biste oštetili stožac.
#2. Uklonite pjenu s ruba i očistite sve ostatke gdje će okolno područje biti zalijepljeno.
#3. Uzmite novi okolni prsten i pokrijte unutarnji dio slojem ljepila. Nemojte stavljati premalo ljepila jer spoj stošca i okoline mora biti čvrst i potpuno zabrtvljen. Također, nemojte istovremeno lijepiti unutarnju i vanjsku stranu prstena. Čineći to, riskirate da vaša glasovna zavojnica bude izvan središta, a to može uništiti vaš zvučnik.
#4. Preokrenite okolno područje i zalijepite zalijepljeno područje na rub stošca. Make sure the surrounding is centred over the cone. For better sticking to the cone, apply some pressure on the glued edges, you can gently tap it all around with a finger.
#5 . This step is the most important in the whole replacement. You will have to glue the ring to the speaker surrounding making sure that the cone is centred against the magnet.
The video below shows the great and fast way how to centre the voice coil and test a speaker at the same time.
Another way to centre the voice coil is to remove a dust cap and use shims. This method, however, may not work in all car speakers due to their size.
#6. When the voice coil is centred, you can connect the foam ring to the speaker basket. Apply glue over the whole area and gently push a speaker ring down until it touches the basket. Rub fingers over the all surround, making sure it will stick to the basket with no gaps in between.
#7. After gluing, it is good to keep both parts together. You can use plastic clips and leave the speaker overnight. The next day when the glue is dry, push a cone a few times down, and if you do not feel any rubbing, the speaker is ready to be installed in the car.
How to Protect Speaker Foam Ring From Damages?
For mechanical damages, try to cover speakers with grills, and if not possible, try not to place any heavy sharp object in front of the speakers.
To prevent tears on the foam or rubber rings, do not keep speakers in a high humid condensation. It may be difficult during rainy days, but when you often use AC in a car, the air should dry the speakers’ surface quickly.
Also, sunlight is a killer for soft foam. Especially, when you have speakers in the dashboard or in the rear deck, they are exposed to the sunlight for the whole day, and that does not increase their lifetime at all. Tinted windows may help but not on the dashboard.
To protect your surroundings from tearing too fast, you can cover them with lubricate, like INTERIOR RESTORER CREAM from ArmorAll.
The extra coating will prevent foam from drying too quickly and can add a few more years to your speakers’ lifetime. For the best effect, try to cover both sides of the surrounding.
It may not always be possible to access this area in the smallest speakers, but you can use thin ear sticks with a little cream at the end and rub it gently.
It is essential to check the speakers from time to time. If you notice any signs of damage to the surroundings, try to repair them as soon as you can. This way, you can prevent more complicated repairs in the future.
I am checking my speakers twice per year before and after winter, and so far, they are in good condition. I am going to keep it that way also for the new speakers.
FAQ
How to Fix a Torn Speaker Surround?
The most common type of damage to speaker surrounds is tearing. This can be caused by the speaker’s age, sun exposure, or simply when using the speaker too much.
There are two ways to fix this problem:you can either replace the surround or repair it.
If the tear is small, you may be able to repair it with glue. The best type of glue to use is a cyanoacrylate adhesive, also known as super glue.
This will bond the surround material with the speaker basket and the cone and make it strong enough to last for a long time.
If the tear is large, you will need to replace the surround. This is not a difficult task, but it does require some patience.
You will need to remove the old surround and install the new one. Make sure that you use the same type of glue that you used to repair the small tear.
How to Replace Speaker Surround?
Replacing the speaker surround is more complicated than repairing it because the cone will be free after removal.
Hence, keeping the cone in the speaker’s centre while installing a new surround is critical. Otherwise, the speaker will not work correctly.
#1. Remove the old surround:Use a razor blade or sharp knife to cut around the edge of the old surround. Be careful not to damage the cone.
#2. Install the new surround:Apply a thin layer of glue around the edge of the cone. Then, align the new surround with the edge of the cone and press it into place.
#3. Let the glue dry:Once the glue has dried, your speaker will be as good as new!
#4. Test the speaker:Make sure the speaker is working correctly before using it.
What Kind of Glue Is Used for Speaker Surrounds?
The best type of glue to use is a cyanoacrylate adhesive, also known as super glue.
This will bond the surrounding material together and make it strong enough to last for a long time. Super glue is also great because it dries quickly, so you won’t have to wait long for your speaker to be ready to use.
What Does It Mean Refoam a Speaker?
Refoaming speakers involve replacing the foam surround attached to the speaker cone.
The foam surround helps keep the cone in place and absorbs any vibrations. However, over time, the foam surround can degrade and cause the speaker to sound distorted, especially in the car speakers used in harsh conditions.
To keep the speaker in good condition, the surrounding should be replaced.
How Much Does It Cost to Have a Speaker Refoamed?
The cost of having a speaker refoamed will depend on the speaker itself and the surrounding type you use.
Generally speaking, it will cost between $40 and $100 per speaker, it is therefore not recommended for cheaper speakers.
How to Repair Torn Speaker Foam?
If your speaker foam is torn in a large area, then it needs to be replaced.
You can replace the foam yourself, but it is best to leave it to a professional, especially when you do not have experience with repairing speakers.
How to Repair Subwoofer Foam Surround?
Repairing foam surround on a subwoofer is not much different from fixing a speaker’s surround, but the materials used have to be much stronger.
To repair the subwoofer’s foam surround, follow the steps below:
#1. Remove the subwoofer from the enclosure. This will give you better access to the foam surround.
#2. Use a sharp knife to trim away any loose or damaged bits of foam surround.
#3. Apply a generous amount of glue to the new foam surround.
#4. Place the new foam surround onto the subwoofer cone.
#5. Use a clamp or heavy object to hold the new foam surround in place while the glue dries.
#6. Once the glue has dried, reassemble the subwoofer and place it back into the enclosure.
The above steps work in case of minor damages, but when the subwoofer’s surrounding is bad over a larger than two inches area, the subwoofer’s surrounding has to be replaced.
Can I Replace the Foam Surrounding With a Rubber?
Many people prefer to replace the foam surround with a rubber surround. This is because rubber surrounds last longer than foam, producing a better bass response.