Whether you are installing a Home Theater system, a car stereo system, or you are installing speakers on a deck or patio, it is important to know how to install and use speaker wire. Speaker wire can be used to connect speakers to a variety of audio components, such as amplifiers, and typically contains two separate wires that are encased in a plastic coating for protection. The wires themselves are usually made from copper, but some designs use silver or gold in the wire. Before installing speaker wire, it is important to map out the design you are planning to use. For instance, when installing speakers in an outdoor area, such as a deck or patio, you will need to take the time to plan out where you will be running the speaker wire to and from. Installing speaker wire in a situation such as this may require you to drill holes in walls to run the line through, so you should also familiarize yourself with your home's construction before undertaking such a task. If installing speaker wire in a vehicle, you may want to read through your owner's manual to see where efficient places to hide wire are in the vehicle. When installing the actual wire, you will need to get a pair of wire strippers to strip the plastic off of the ends so that you can have solid metal to metal contact when connecting to an audio component. Pay close attention to any markings on the two individual wires, as these will denote the left and right channels of a speaker. When connecting these wires, it is important that you connect the positive and negative wires to the corresponding posts on your audio component. Reversing these may result in malfunctioning speakers, or worse, damaged equipment. Most speaker wire will have some sort of color coded scheme to denote which wire is which, but if you are unsure, read any documentation that came with the speaker wire, or contact the wire's manufacturer. If you are still unsure, it is best to call a professional to help you install your speaker wire to avoid possible damage to your audio components.