Wiring a 2-Ohm Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer to a 2-Ohm Amplifier at 1 Ohm Impedance

To wire a 2-ohm dual voice coil (DVC) subwoofer to a 2-ohm amplifier so that the subwoofer acts as a 1-ohm load, you need to connect the voice coils in parallel. This process is crucial for optimizing the performance of your audio system while ensuring the safety of your components. Below, we will provide detailed steps on how to wire the subwoofer and explain the necessary calculations to achieve the desired impedance.

Wiring Steps

Step 1: Identify the Voice Coils

A dual voice coil subwoofer typically comes with two sets of terminals, usually labeled as and - for each coil. For the purpose of this guide, let's refer to the first coil as Coil A and the second coil as Coil B.

Step 2: Connect the Voice Coils in Parallel

Connect the positive terminal of Coil A to the positive terminal of the amplifier. Connect the negative terminal of Coil A to the positive terminal of Coil B. Connect the negative terminal of Coil B to the negative terminal of the amplifier.

Heres a simple representation of the wiring:

Amplifier ------------------- Coil A
Coil A - ---- Coil B

------------------- Coil B - ----

Impedance Calculation

When you wire the voice coils in parallel, the total impedance is calculated using the formula for parallel resistors:

(frac{1}{Z_{total}} frac{1}{Z_1} frac{1}{Z_2})

Where:

(Z_1) is the impedance of Coil A (2 ohms) (Z_2) is the impedance of Coil B (2 ohms)

Substituting in the values:

(frac{1}{Z_{total}} frac{1}{2} frac{1}{2} frac{2}{2} Rightarrow Z_{total} 1) ohm

Important Considerations

Amplifier Compatibility

Ensure that your amplifier is rated to handle a 1-ohm load. Not all amplifiers can operate safely at this impedance level. If your amplifier is not rated for 1 ohm, proceed with caution as it may not handle the load safely and could overheat.

Power Handling

Make sure that the power handling of the subwoofer matches the output of the amplifier at 1 ohm to avoid damage. If the amplifier is not capable of handling 1 ohm, you may need to use only one voice coil, or wire both in series to achieve a higher impedance.

Wiring for a Higher Impedance Subwoofer

If the amplifier is not capable of handling 1 ohm, wire the subwoofer as follows:

Connect the positive wire from the amplifier to one positive sub terminal. Connect the negative terminal from the amplifier to the other voice coil’s negative sub terminal. Connect the remaining subwoofer negative terminal to the remaining positive subwoofer terminal.

This configuration will effectively wire the sub in series, resulting in a higher overall impedance.