Parallel 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=20509
Printed Date: July 05, 2025 at 8:26 PM

Topic: Parallel Wiring ?

Posted By: foodang
Subject: Parallel Wiring ?
Date Posted: October 24, 2003 at 8:16 AM

Im going to run an amp that is 2ohm stable. Its rating is as follows

2x150W RMS at 4 Ohms

2x300W MAX at 4 Ohms

1X600W Max at 4 Ohms Bridged

2x200W at 2ohms

Im gonna run two 4ohm JL W0's can I wire it up bridged to the 2 subs wired in parallel to achive the 2 ohm load with out overdriving the amp. Or is the 2ohm rating for a series wiring conection only.

Replies:

Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: October 24, 2003 at 10:28 AM

First, forget about the Max rating when dealing with amps. You'll never get it. That rating comes from most manufacturer's as the "split second before meltdown" output rating, and they obtain it with an ungodly amount of amperage (more that a 12v system can produce anyway).

So what you need to look at is:

150 x 2 @ 4ohms Stereo
200 x 2 @ 2ohms Stereo
400 x 1 @ 4ohms Mono/Bridged

You're question is actually answered by the minimum Mono ohm stability of your amp. Since the W0's are 4ohm SVC's, wiring 2 of them in parallel would give you a 2ohm Mono load (since wiring in parallel halves the ohms). That amp is only rated as being 4ohm Mono stable, and 2ohm Stereo stable. Mono meaning 1 channel, Stereo meaning Left and Right channels. You're best (safest) bet is to wire each sub to it's own channel for the 150 x 2 @ 4ohms Stereo rating.

If you put a 2ohm Mono load on an amp that is not 2ohm Mono stable you run a severe risk of clipping (which will eventually fry your amp and subs), or the amp will blow or go into protect mode immediately.

Don't worry though, 200 watts for a W0 is a bit much anyway (the JL "Danger Zone" for W0's starts at around 200 watts). So you're safer with only throwing 150 watts to each of them (which is in JL's "Optimum Zone").

-------------
Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
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Posted By: superstreet786
Date Posted: October 25, 2003 at 4:36 PM

just stick with the 4 ohm bridged... gives out the most power

Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: October 25, 2003 at 7:45 PM

superstreet786, you abviously didn't read wvsquirrel's reply, you can't wire 2 4ohm subs to 4 ohm, they would either be 2 ohm or 8 ohm, , the amp only takes 2 ohm per channel, or 4 ohm bridged, the only safe way the system can be set up to get the most power is in stereo.

Sorry if that sounded mean, i don't want it to come out that way, but im far to tired to fix it, haha sorry,