subwoofer/amp wiring

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=118508
Printed Date: May 21, 2024 at 9:30 AM

Topic: subwoofer/amp wiring

Posted By: ls/vtec
Subject: subwoofer/amp wiring
Date Posted: December 13, 2009 at 11:37 PM

hey I have a few questions. I am not too familar with this forum setup so bare with me...

I have the following setup.

-Pioneer Avic N1

-2 Alpine Type R 12's

And Kicker zx850.2 amp.

Now I was told if I hook the subs up as 2ohm it will be louder,but has a chance of over heating the amp. Basically what I want to know is if I hook them up as 2ohms will everything be able to handle it. Or will it it blow the amp or subs? Or am I better off just bridging the setup? And leaving it 4ohms?

Loke I said please bare with me I am not an audio tech nor anywhere close to it. So just looking for input from people who know. Thanks in advance!

Replies:

Posted By: j.reed
Date Posted: December 13, 2009 at 11:54 PM

You can run 2 ohm stereo or a 4 ohm bridged with that amp. Both are safe and stable. Both would yield the same power and output. Doing the 4 ohm bridge would be better for this case though being subs, giving you a mono out. A 2 ohm bridge would shorten the life of the amp if it will even run at all.

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Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 11:16 AM

j.reed wrote:

You can run 2 ohm stereo or a 4 ohm bridged with that amp. Both are safe and stable. Both would yield the same power and output. Doing the 4 ohm bridge would be better for this case though being subs, giving you a mono out. A 2 ohm bridge would shorten the life of the amp if it will even run at all.

Ok. Thank you for the quick response. So I will leave it at 4ohm, and bridge the amp to both subs. Thank a lot!

Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 2:16 PM

Ok so I bridged each speaker to the amp, and whats happening now is no sound out of the subs and they randomly trun on for like 1 second and the amp light goes to protect mode. But when I wire em up normal each speaker to each channel it works fine. Im confused lol.

Posted By: j.reed
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 2:36 PM

What ohm load are your subs. You have them wired wrong. Are they dual 2ohm or 4ohm?

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Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 3:10 PM

I will upload a pic of how thay are wired in like 10min. i will go puill one off. But heres so you get an idea. i will make you a diagram in ms paint. It wont be pretty tho lol.

Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 3:20 PM

[IMG]https://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu202/typeref/typerwiring.jpg[/IMG]

Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 3:21 PM

Here's the link. Sorry just realized I can't post pix do to being a noob.

https://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu202/typeref/typerwiring.jpg?t=1260825636

Posted By: j.reed
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 3:59 PM

Well your subs are dual 4ohm. You were wired Parallel/parallel. So your amp was seeing a 1ohm bridged load. Each needs to be run in series then parallel. 4ohm DVC sub wire optionsYou will want to wire according to OPTION 2 for each sub.

Once your subs are each in series by them self. You will parallel them to the amp.
Series/parallel Again Option 2 is how it should look.

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Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 4:40 PM

Ok. have the 2 outter connections as negative and positive, then the 2 middles connected to each other is that right? Sorry I took a pic and my phone didn't save it. Now if that is right do I need to bridge it to the amp, Or run each to each channel? Again thanks for the halp I know im probably annoying.

Posted By: j.reed
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 4:55 PM

you should only have to run your little plug connection on the 2 middle + and -. the Speaker line coming in on the outsides will take care of the other + and - as you had it in the pic. Then just match up your + and - wires running out from both woofers. Those will be hooked together at the amp bridged + and - giving you a 4 ohm bridged load. No you are not annoying. A lot of us do this day in and day out. It becomes 2nd nature. For your first time seeing it and doing it. It can be very confusing.

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Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 6:19 PM

Ok. So I have em hooked up like this.

https://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu202/typeref/Amp1.jpg

Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 6:19 PM

Or like this?

https://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu202/typeref/amp2.jpg

Posted By: j.reed
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 6:44 PM

ls/vtec wrote:

Or like this?

https://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu202/typeref/amp2.jpg

like this one. This will yield your 4ohm bridged load.

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Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 8:42 PM

Ok. Did it. It sounds better. Thanks for the help. What size power/ground wires should I be using for the setup?

Posted By: j.reed
Date Posted: December 14, 2009 at 10:13 PM

4 gauge at a minimum. The is fused at 120A they recommend 2 gauge. 4 gauge will carry a max 150A.

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Posted By: ls/vtec
Date Posted: December 15, 2009 at 11:23 AM

j.reed wrote:

4 gauge at a minimum. The is fused at 120A they recommend 2 gauge. 4 gauge will carry a max 150A.

Ok. Thanks the help. It sounds better already. Thanks!