Question on cabinet wiring...

BassManMike73 · #1 07-16-2011, 10:54 PM

So here's the problem, i've got an 800 watt 4 ohm amp that has 2 outputs. I have 3 speaker cabinets that i'd like to use with this head. A 4x10 400 watts, a 2x10 200 watts, and a 1x15 thats also 200 watts. All 3 are 8 ohms.

Looking at the wiring the 10" speakers are wired parallel, and are 8 ohms. The cabs only have one input. If i were to add a second 1/4" plug to the 2x10, thats parallel to the original input, could i have a cable connecting those two and have the total be 400 watts at 8 ohms? I'm fairly experienced with wiring and electronics. And i know that plugging two of my cabs in it makes the head run at 4 ohms, 8+8=4. But would the 3rd cabs impedance factor in if i do this? Or still come out to 8+8=4?
l

T-Bird · #2 07-17-2011, 12:27 AM

Hi.

Unless all the cabs are of the same make and of a same series, You'll probably blow the 15" in no time.

Without knowing the cabs, the sensitivities of the drivers and the 410's wiring (assumed series/parallell) the power distribution is easy to calculate, but hard to balance.

Since I'm one of those people that occasionally run 410 and 115 together (and probably go to hell as a result as Paul said in another thread) I won't comment on that

.

Regards
Sam

BassManMike73 · #3 07-17-2011, 11:17 AM

They are all from the same series, all Gallien-Krueger, and all have the same model speakers (except the 10's vs 15) And i run it now with the 410 and 15 together, i just wanted to add in the 210. And the 410 is wired parallel. Each speaker is 100 watts and 8 ohms.

Bass_Pounder · #4 07-17-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

So here's the problem, i've got an 800 watt 4 ohm amp that has 2 outputs. I have 3 speaker cabinets that i'd like to use with this head. A 4x10 400 watts, a 2x10 200 watts, and a 1x15 thats also 200 watts. All 3 are 8 ohms.

Looking at the wiring the 10" speakers are wired parallel, and are 8 ohms. The cabs only have one input. If i were to add a second 1/4" plug to the 2x10, thats parallel to the original input, could i have a cable connecting those two and have the total be 400 watts at 8 ohms? I'm fairly experienced with wiring and electronics. And i know that plugging two of my cabs in it makes the head run at 4 ohms, 8+8=4. But would the 3rd cabs impedance factor in if i do this? Or still come out to 8+8=4?l

Three 8 ohm cabs is 2.67 ohms total load, so no, you cannot use all 3 cabs together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

They are all from the same series, all Gallien-Krueger, and all have the same model speakers (except the 10's vs 15) And i run it now with the 410 and 15 together, i just wanted to add in the 210. And the 410 is wired parallel. Each speaker is 100 watts and 8 ohms.

Impossible to all be the same speakers............

For a 2X10 cab to be 8 ohms, it is either loaded with 4 ohm 10's wired in series, or it is loaded with 16 ohm 10's wired parallel.

For a 4X10 cab to be 8 ohms, it is either loaded with 32 ohm 10's wired parallel, or 8 ohm 10's wired series/parallel.

bwoodman · #5 07-17-2011, 11:51 AM

115 + 210 or 115 + 410 is a great rig already. Why do you even want to use all three?

will33 · #6 07-17-2011, 12:12 PM

If you really want to do it, make up a series cable and use it to chain the 15 and 210 together and parallel the 410 to that. It's the only way and is rather pointless.

BassmanPaul · #7 07-17-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Since I'm one of those people that occasionally run 410 and 115 together (and probably go to hell as a result as Paul said in another thread) I won't comment on that

.

Regards
Sam

Hi Sam

BassmanPaul · #8 07-17-2011, 12:37 PM

OP, you can use any two of your cabinets but not all three. Using either of your other cabinets with the 4x10 will put them at great risk. The 4x10 will out class them in every respect.

bearplayingbass · #9 07-17-2011, 04:29 PM

would you be able to run two 8ohm cabs daisey chained out of one head output and a 4ohm cab out the other output for a 2ohm head?

Bass_Pounder · #10 07-17-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearplayingbass

would you be able to run two 8ohm cabs daisey chained out of one head output and a 4ohm cab out the other output for a 2ohm head?

Yes..............

"Daisey chaining" is the same as using 2 outputs on the back of your head - it is parallel wiring. So, the 2 cabs "chained" would be a 4 ohm load.

Adding another 4 ohm cab to the other output brings you to a 2 ohm load.

Just be aware that the 4 ohm cab is going to be getting half the output of the amp, while each of the 8 ohm cabs will be getting 1/4 output each.

BassManMike73 · #11 07-17-2011, 05:27 PM

thanks guys, thats what i was worried would be the case. I'll probably stick to the 410 and 15. I'm already looking at buying a set of Celestion TF1020's for the 410, and possibly getting a crossover and horn to put in it as well.

@Bass Pounder, i was fairly sure that the 410 and 210 had the same speakers, they're from the same series, so i assumed, but thanks for clearing that up for me.

BassmanPaul · #12 07-17-2011, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

thanks guys, thats what i was worried would be the case. I'll probably stick to the 410 and 15. I'm already looking at buying a set of Celestion TF1020's for the 410, and possibly getting a crossover and horn to put in it as well.

Unless the cabinet was designed for the Celestions the result will be a crapshoot!

If you must use the 1x15 at least stack it on the top of the 4x10 so you can hear when it's in distress.

BassManMike73 · #13 07-17-2011, 06:16 PM

id never heard of there being issues running a 410 and 15 together, can someone explain why its an issue?

billfitzmaurice · #14 07-17-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

id never heard of there being issues running a 410 and 15 together, can someone explain why its an issue?

This question has been posted here at least twice a week for the last six or seven years. Do a search. I doubt you have to go even one page back to find another thread on the subject.

Budbear · #15 07-17-2011, 08:49 PM

Here's one from earlier today.

Uneven tone/volume with 410 and 115...help!

BassManMike73 · #16 07-17-2011, 09:13 PM

wow, being the gearaholic that i am i thought i was pretty knowledgeable. Thanks for showing this info to me. Guess I've got a 15 to sell now, lol. Thats alright i guess, i'm about to buy an Ampeg 610 anyway. Unless anyone has some other cabs they'd like to recommend?

T-Bird · #17 07-17-2011, 11:59 PM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Hi Sam

Hi Paul.

Probably got the "going to hell" part sorted out though, I've owned several Fords over the years and as everyone knows, souls that have known the hell on earth will go straight to heaven

.

Regards
Sam

Munjibunga · #18 07-18-2011, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

thanks guys, thats what i was worried would be the case. I'll probably stick to the 410 and 15. I'm already looking at buying a set of Celestion TF1020's for the 410, and possibly getting a crossover and horn to put in it as well.

@Bass Pounder, i was fairly sure that the 410 and 210 had the same speakers, they're from the same series, so i assumed, but thanks for clearing that up for me.

If I were you, I'd run the 410 and 210 and ditch the 15.

BassmanPaul · #19 07-18-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

If I were you, I'd run the 410 and 210 and ditch the 15.

The problem is Munji that all his cabinets are 8Ω. Mixing either the 15 or the 2x10 will give them the same power as the 4x10. Either cabinet will be in jeopardy. In my mind it would be best to run the 4x10 as a standalone and the 15 and 2x10 as a pair. Better yet would be to sell both of the lesser cabinets and get a second matching 4x10.

Alex1984 · #20 07-18-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

The problem is Munji that all his cabinets are 8Ω. Mixing either the 15 or the 2x10 will give them the same power as the 4x10. Either cabinet will be in jeopardy. In my mind it would be best to run the 4x10 as a standalone and the 15 and 2x10 as a pair. Better yet would be to sell both of the lesser cabinets and get a second matching 4x10.

Sound advice. Bring 1 for small gigs, bring 2 for big gigs.