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Question on cabinet wiring...

BassManMike73

BassManMike73

Apr 20, 2011
523
2
Portage, MI
www.facebook.com
#1
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
 
#2
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
 
#4
BassManMike73 said:
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
Click to expand...

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

BassManMike73 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
#10
bearplayingbass said:
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? :eyebrow:
Click to expand...


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.
 
#11
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.
 
#12
BassManMike73 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
#14
BassManMike73 said:
id never heard of there being issues running a 410 and 15 together, can someone explain why its an issue?
Click to expand...
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.
 
#18
BassManMike73 said:
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.
Click to expand...

If I were you, I'd run the 410 and 210 and ditch the 15.
 
#19
Munjibunga said:
If I were you, I'd run the 410 and 210 and ditch the 15.
Click to expand...

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.
 
#20
BassmanPaul said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

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