The Turner SSB +2 is a desktop microphone used in both HAM and CB radio applications. These microphones were manufactured throughout the '70s and '80s. Since many of these microphones are vintage, they often need significant restoration. A big part of microphone restoration involves rewiring the connector inside the microphone, referred to as the XLR connector. XLR connectors are three-pin connectors used in most audio technology, such as audio mixers, amplifiers and multitrack recorders. Rewiring your Turner microphone requires partially dismantling the microphone assembly.
Instructions
1. Disconnect the main XLR cable from the CB, amateur radio or other audio device. Unscrew the base stand from the bottom side of the microphone's housing.
2. Remove the Phillips screws from the back of the microphone's housing. Remove the back panel from the microphone to reveal the internal wiring. Lay the microphone face down on your work surface.
3. Find the three color-coded audio wires connecting to the microphone's capsule from the XLR cable. The black wire is the ground wire, the red wire is the positive wire and the blue wire is the negative wire.
4. Plug in a soldering iron and let it heat up for a few minutes. De-solder the three audio wires from the connector pins inside the microphone. Touch the soldering iron to each of the soldered joints on each pin connector until the solder melts and each wire is disconnected.
5. Cut off the exposed section of each wire with a pair of wire cutters. Use wire strippers to strip each wire's insulation back until 1/8 inch of wire is exposed.
6. Match each wire to the appropriate pin. The black wire (ground) goes to pin 1 or the pin on the right. The red (positive) wire goes to pin 2, or the pin on the left. The blue wire (negative) matches pin 3, or the center pin.
7. Touch each wire to its respective pin, while touching a fresh piece of solder to where each wire meets the pin. Melt the solder with the soldering iron. The solder should absorb each wire to its respective pin. Let the solder settle for about 10 minutes.
8. Replace the microphone's back cover and its retaining Phillips screws. Reattach the base stand to the bottom side of the microphone. Plug the microphone into your radio to test its connection.
Tags: each wire, soldering iron, audio wires, base stand, black wire, black wire ground