Author Topic: Wiring 2 16ohm speakers for mono or stereo (Read 3714 times)

sgmypod · « **on:** January 09, 2008, 11:26:39 PM »

Have a 2x12 with 2 16ohm speakers, I want to wire so I can choose to use each speaker separately or together (without external box)

Oli · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2008, 01:09:27 AM »

To wire two 16 ohm speakers to provide 8ohm mono/16ohm stereo operation, you will need:

2 x 16ohm speakers
2 x 1/4 barrel connectors (one of them has to have 'break' contacts, like: http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=1298&doy=10m1)
wire.

For the left (the connector to be used for mono operation), connect the + and - points on the speaker to the non-break contacts of one of the jacks, and the same wires to the break contacts on the other jack. The non-break contacts on the 2nd jack go the + and - on the right speaker.

When you plug in to the left connector, the signal goes to the left speaker, and because there is nothing plugged into the right socket, it also goes to the right speaker (because there is nothing to break the contacts apart). But when you plug into the right, it will disconnect so they both operate on their own (just remember to switch the output impedance on your amp). This is how i've got my 2x12 wired, so i know it works :P

Hope that helps, if you want a diagram, i can try and draw one up for you :)

sgmypod · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2008, 08:35:14 AM »

thanks for reply...missed it when first posted due to problems getting on here, did the forum go down?, have now found a diagram to have a switch so can have either both speakers wired together or choose which one I have on it's own..have got it wired and.seems to work

Henk · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2008, 09:17:58 AM »

Yeah the forum was down yesterday :(

Anyway, search on the net on the subject and go with a pro wiring schematic, i have a cab like this but 4x12 with 8 ohm speakers, wired like this:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=114756

I think it should be wired like this because this way you can only run the cab stereo if you have a jack in the left and put one in the right, dont know why this was important but it was. Probably has to do with the risk of blowing something up if a cable gets disconnected by accident or whatever.

sgmypod · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2008, 10:43:14 AM »

strange my backplate looked exactly the same..kinda wanted choice of which speaker could choose to have on it's own so the switch way gives me the choice....but if I run 2 amps through it..I.E. 1 amp one speaker..I have to be carefull that is switched right(luckly not really something I'm going to do)

Henk · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2008, 07:32:49 PM »

Quote from: sgmypod

strange my backplate looked exactly the same..kinda wanted choice of which speaker could choose to have on it's own so the switch way gives me the choice....but if I run 2 amps through it..I.E. 1 amp one speaker..I have to be carefull that is switched right(luckly not really something I'm going to do)

Well if you do it like i have done it (without switch) you cant mess it up since the amp needs to be at 8 ohm for stereo mode(unless it has stereo 2x exits) and at 8 ohm for mono mode. You also cant overload a single speaker since it automatically switches back to mono if you would disconnect one, or you would hear nothing.