Wiring subs

[88 LE]

My question is about wiring subs.

Lets say I have 2 subs and a 800W amp.

If the subs are wired in parallel to the amp, would each sub receive 800W? And if the subs are wired in series, would each sub receive 400W?



I'm trying to think of it as an electronic circuit. Where subs = resistors and amp = power supply.

Whenever you wire 2 resistors of the same value in parallel to a power supply, each resistor receives the same amount of power (voltage and current).

The same 2 resistors wired in series, each resistor would receive half the total voltage of the power supply. In other words the overall power is divided amongst the resistors.


If you keep adding resistors in parallel to each other, each resistor receives the same amount of voltage and current, but the overall current draw goes up.

In series the voltage would just get divided further.


Would the same apply to subs wired in parallel and series?

[Batemada]

Sounds about right to me you would just have to be very carefull that you dont put too much stress on your system by using too many subs in parallel.

[88 LE]

^ Thats what I'm thinking to. The amp would just draw more current.

It makes sense. Amp has to work harder the more subs it drives.

I only used the above as an example. I'm only planning to drive one sub with a 800W mono block.

[Batemada]

There should be no problems doing that. What amp are you looking at doing this with?

[88 LE]

I'm looking at a IDMax12 (dual 2 ohm version). I'd series the coils and run it at 4 ohm.

http://www.imagedynamicsusa.com/prod...idmax&type=sub



For the amp I'm using a Linear Power 8002SW.









I have the amp. Just need the sub.

[cam2Xrunner]

Originally Posted by 88 LE

My question is about wiring subs.

Lets say I have 2 subs and a 800W amp.

If the subs are wired in parallel to the amp, would each sub receive 800W? And if the subs are wired in series, would each sub receive 400W?



I'm trying to think of it as an electronic circuit. Where subs = resistors and amp = power supply.

Whenever you wire 2 resistors of the same value in parallel to a power supply, each resistor receives the same amount of power (voltage and current).

The same 2 resistors wired in series, each resistor would receive half the total voltage of the power supply. In other words the overall power is divided amongst the resistors.


If you keep adding resistors in parallel to each other, each resistor receives the same amount of voltage and current, but the overall current draw goes up.

In series the voltage would just get divided further.


Would the same apply to subs wired in parallel and series?

Unfortunately this is not how it works. No matter how you have them wired they are going to split the power. This thread on ECA is sort of the same ?

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showt...hreadid=118196

[cam2Xrunner]

Also I found this information you might be interested in.

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:X...=en&lr=lang_en

FOUR OHM CAPABILITY

1.As shipped from the factory, the 8002SW will be set up to run an 8 ohm mono load. To correctly run a 4 ohm mono load, remove the cover and change the power supply taps to the 4 ohm tabs located on the board next to the 8 ohm tabs.

That seems to be a pretty rare amp, if you do a google search on that amp, you'll see alot of links point to a couple of your posts here on TN

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by cam2Xrunner

Unfortunately this is not how it works. No matter how you have them wired they are going to split the power. This thread on ECA is sort of the same ?

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showt...hreadid=118196

Interesting. So it doesn't work like a electronic circuit with resistors and a power supply.

FOUR OHM CAPABILITY

1.As shipped from the factory, the 8002SW will be set up to run an 8 ohm mono load. To correctly run a 4 ohm mono load, remove the cover and change the power supply taps to the 4 ohm tabs located on the board next to the 8 ohm tabs.

My smaller amp (2502IQ) has the taps too.

I've heard from my friend (who I bought the amps from) that you run a 4 ohm mono load using the 8 ohms taps. He says the amp will put out more power doing this at the risk of frying it.

[TakeABao]

Wow. That amp is hot.

[DrtySthV6SE]

Originally Posted by cam2Xrunner

Unfortunately this is not how it works. No matter how you have them wired they are going to split the power. This thread on ECA is sort of the same ?

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showt...hreadid=118196

yeah thats what i was thinking, its like asking an amp to put out twice its power, if you put more load on it. amp would definately split the power

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by TakeABao

Wow. That amp is hot.

Thanks.


Heres some pics of the smaller one (2502IQ). Its rated at 125x2 @ 4 ohms.








It also uses mil-spec TO3 transistors like its bigger bro.


IIRC the lineup goes like this: 2502IQ, 502HV, 5002, 8002SW.

The ones after that are: 2.2HV, 3.2HV, and 4.1HV.

My friend has a 3.2HV, its a 2004 limited edition and it was the last production run on that amp. Bought it factory direct.

[Luc]

Those TO-3 BJT's are nice, but not really efficient and dissipates a lot of heat as loss.

You cannot compare amplifier-subwoofer circuits to resistor networks in terms of power because in a circuit, it is ALL DC, power is easily calculated and determined. Since music is transient, i.e., AC, impedance will fluctuate.

In reality, it makes no sense to run two subwoofers in series unless you're trying to use a reach a voltage level at the + terminal of the 2nd subwoofer. Sure, both will receive the same current, but the 1st one would work harder since it's absorbing all the current up front. It will see more than 400-watts than the 2nd one. Thus, running in parallel is better, since that would "almost" guarantee both speakers get the same power.

[TakeABao]

Originally Posted by Luc

Those TO-3 BJT's are nice, but not really efficient and dissipates a lot of heat as loss.

You cannot compare amplifier-subwoofer circuits to resistor networks in terms of power because in a circuit, it is ALL DC, power is easily calculated and determined. Since music is transient, i.e., AC, impedance will fluctuate.

In reality, it makes no sense to run two subwoofers in series unless you're trying to use a reach a voltage level at the + terminal of the 2nd subwoofer. Sure, both will receive the same current, but the 1st one would work harder since it's absorbing all the current up front. It will see more than 400-watts than the 2nd one. Thus, running in parallel is better, since that would "almost" guarantee both speakers get the same power.

Yay, sounds like we have another electrical engineer in the house!