Help! Why is my speaker burning???

TheseBoots · #1 10-20-2011, 12:41 PM

I have a problem I can't figure out:

I recently built a new setup for myself to compliment my GK 800RB. Here's a link with the specs.

Gallien-Krueger 800Rb Bass Amp Head

I'm running a speaker cable from the hi-end output into a 2x12 cab with 100-watt, 16-ohm Carvin 12s wired in series.

I'm running another speaker cable from one of the two low-end outputs into a separate cab with a 600-watt, 8 ohm Carvin 15.

When I play through both cabs I make sure the biamp switch is on and in theory each speaker should only be handling half the wattage it can handle, even at full blast. Nevertheless, I can smell my 15 starting to burn. Any ideas what might be causing this? The two 12s seem to be fine. It's just the 15 that is having issues.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

will33 · #2 10-20-2011, 01:03 PM

What do you mean burning, smell? Certain it's the speaker? Why are you running 212's on the high side? At 32 ohms?

anonymous02282011 · #3 10-20-2011, 01:07 PM

STOP!

Disconnect everything.

i think you need special speaker cables to bridge GK amps. I think you need to have the terminals wired in a very "GK specific" way. Someone with more familiarity will explain this shortly.

silky smoove · #4 10-20-2011, 01:18 PM

The biamp cable is only needed for the 700RB, 1001RB, 2001RB, etc. The 800RB and 400RB are a more typical biamp setup requiring no special cabling.

will33 · #5 10-20-2011, 01:21 PM

800rb is old style, highs to one cab, lows to the other, 1/4" jacks.

BassmanPaul · #6 10-20-2011, 01:22 PM

The 800RB is not a stereo amp and therefore cannot be bridged.

BassmanPaul · #7 10-20-2011, 01:24 PM

I too don't see the point of the twelves in series. In parallel the load would be 8Ω and just what the high amp needs. What frequency are you crossing over?

father of fires · #8 10-20-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheseBoots

I have a problem I can't figure out:

I recently built a new setup for myself to compliment my GK 800RB. Here's a link with the specs.

Gallien-Krueger 800Rb Bass Amp Head

I'm running a speaker cable from the hi-end output into a 2x12 cab with 100-watt, 16-ohm Carvin 12s wired in series.

I'm running another speaker cable from one of the two low-end outputs into a separate cab with a 600-watt, 8 ohm Carvin 15.

When I play through both cabs I make sure the biamp switch is on and in theory each speaker should only be handling half the wattage it can handle, even at full blast. Nevertheless, I can smell my 15 starting to burn. Any ideas what might be causing this? The two 12s seem to be fine. It's just the 15 that is having issues.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Is your "high" cab 32 ohm?

Rockman · #9 10-20-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheseBoots

I'm running a speaker cable from the hi-end output into a 2x12 cab with 100-watt, 16-ohm Carvin 12s wired in series.

Are you sure about that? That would mean the impedance of this cab is 32ohm, while that won't really cause a problem its a really high impedance for a speaker cabinet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheseBoots

I'm running another speaker cable from one of the two low-end outputs into a separate cab with a 600-watt, 8 ohm Carvin 15.

When I play through both cabs I make sure the biamp switch is on and in theory each speaker should only be handling half the wattage it can handle, even at full blast. Nevertheless, I can smell my 15 starting to burn. Any ideas what might be causing this? The two 12s seem to be fine. It's just the 15 that is having issues.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Something is either messed with your amp, your cab, or your wiring.

anonymous02282011 · #10 10-20-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silky smoove

The biamp cable is only needed for the 700RB, 1001RB, 2001RB, etc. The 800RB and 400RB are a more typical biamp setup requiring no special cabling.

thanks for the clarificiation

GrowlerBox · #11 10-20-2011, 01:34 PM

Is it possible that the 115 is being asked to reproduce low frequencies beyond the speaker's capacity to do so, and is reaching its mechanical limits even at relatively low power?

BassmanPaul · #12 10-20-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

Is it possible that the 115 is being asked to reproduce low frequencies beyond the speaker's capacity to do so, and is reaching its mechanical limits even at relatively low power?

This was my thought too. If the Carvin speaker is housed in an unsuitable box it will never be able to handle any where near its rating. The power spec is also probably thermal and in real world terms will be taken to the limit with a 300W amp. It's also an 8Ω driver so the amp is only going to give in the order of 180W or so.

billfitzmaurice · #13 10-20-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

The power spec is also probably thermal and in real world terms will be taken to the limit with a 300W amp.

Quite likely less than that. The '600 watt' PS15C-8 has only 1.8mm xmax, perhaps good for 75 watts. More than that will only create more heat, not more output.