Page 12 - Do It Yourself RCA Interconnects Pictorial

Here is my work log for a set of stereo channel RCA interconnects.

**Materials Used**
RCA male ends x 4 (2 sets of red, 2 sets of black)
2 conductor wire with drain wire (I used Gepco microphone cable)
Wire strippers
Soldering gun/torch (I used a butane pen torch)
Solder (I used the highest % silver I could find at Radio Shack)
Heatshrink tubing in 1/4" and 3/8" sizes (Ebay)
Speaker wire pants (ordered them from Parts Express)
Expandable sleeving in 1/4" size (Ebay)

Price breakdown:
RCA ends ($18.75 per 100) $0.1875 each
Amount used: 4 x $0.1875 = $0.75

Gepco 61801EZ mic cable ($10.00 per 100ft) $0.10 foot
Amount used: 15 feet x $0.10 = $1.50

Partsexpress cable pants ($5.50 per 10) $0.55 each
Amount used: 2 x $0.55 = $1.10

1/4" Expandable sleeve ($10.15 per 50ft) $0.20 foot
Amount used: 16 ft x $0.20 = $3.20

Heatshrink tubing ($9.95 per 48") $0.20 inch
Amount used: 4 inches x $0.20 = $0.80

Grand Total: $7.35

Here are pics of some of the materials

I first measured the length I needed. One of the advantages of DIY interconnects is you can make custom lengths. That way you dont need to buy extra feet and bundle it up like the store bought cables. Since the set I am making is for a stereo application (this set will run from my head unit to the amp on the back wall of my truck), I only needed 2 sets of RCA ends, one Red and Black set for each end of the cable.
I fished the cables through the speaker pants. Once that was complete I stripped off the black plastic coating to expose the 3 wires, being extra careful to NOT break the plastic coating of the 2 inside wires. The 3rd wire is already bare, as this is the shielding wire.

I inserted the RCA end and then slipped in a piece of heatshrink tubing that will protect the soldered connections. I inserted the Red wire into the center connection. the Black wire is twisted with the shielding wire and then run thru the hole for the ground connection. Everything is soldered and the the clamp is crimped down for securing the cable. Once this is done I slid the heatshrink over the connections and then heated to shrink. All that is left is to screw the base to the RCA plug and we are golden. Repeat for the second channel.

Connections soldered up, and heat shrink applied

Repeat for the second channel. Now when doing the other end, do not utilize the shield wire. Simply snip it off down to the jacket and only use the Red and Black wires.
I ran the expandable sleeving over the cabling on the other end before I proceeded to install and solder those RCA ends, as once they are soldered, its pretty much permanent. So be careful to check it all again before completing.

And here is what the RCA cables look like once completed. These are roughly 15 feet long and will run from my head unit, under the cabin carpet to the rear wall of my truck to the amp.