two 4 ohm subs equal 1.8 ohms????

[elpelotero22 10+ year member]

Ok, I am confused right now. I just had a guy check the setup in my car and he told me everything is set up at 1.8 ohms. My 2 subs are 4 ohms each, and my amp is 1 ohm stable, so I was aiming for a 1 ohm load to get the max possible watts out of my amp. The guy just got a reading of 1.8 ohms, and hes telling me that when people say "1 ohm load" it is not exactly 1 ohm, that it can be give or take. So he says this 1.8 ohms is really what people refer to as a 1 ohm load. He says that the way it is set up now is as low as the subs and the amp can be wired down to without risking blowing my amp; and that if I get 2 ohm subs, I can probably get down to around 1.5 ohms. Now, I dont understand what all this is, is he just wrong? Were my subs just wired wrong and that is why I'm not getting 1 ohm?

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[bonesninja 5,000+ posts]

well if you have 2 dvc 4 ohm subs....1 ohm is as low as you can wire it....no exceptions. you might be sitting at 1.8 after rise. doesn't seem out of line to me

 

[bonesninja 5,000+ posts]

if your amp is 1 ohm stable and you get dvc 2 ohm subs and wire them to 0.5 ohms...your amp might not be able to handle it and either go into protect or overheat and let out the smoke

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

well if you have 2 dvc 4 ohm subs....1 ohm is as low as you wire it....no exceptions. you might be sitting at 1.8 after rise. doesn't seem out of line to me

x2.

use a dmm to measure your coils, they'll probably sit around 3.7-4.3 per coil..

usually they aren't DEAD on.. like advertised.

plus you've got to factor in impedance rise..

 

[mile098 10+ year member]

as i told u in the other thread and they said here...the coils are probably 3.6-8 and parraleling them up gives u a 1.8, counting the impedence rise u get 2.xx ohms final load

 

[elpelotero22 10+ year member]

So in other words, my subs ARE wired down in parallel to 1 ohm, in THEORY atleast?? So when you talk about the amp blowing... is it based on the ohms in theory or based on the real ohms that are read? Like for example, if my subs are wired in parallel to 1 ohm (in theory), but are really 1.8 ohms (in practice)... the ohms that really matter are the ohms being read in practice? This guy also told me that I would need 2 more 4 ohm subs to get a perfect 1 ohm, just like you said...or that I can just replace these 2 for two 2 ohm subs and get around 1.5 ohms according to him... Also, my amp says it puts out about 1100 watts rms at 2 ohms and 1500 watts rms at 1 ohm... Since the reading is at 1.8 ohms then this means the amps is putting out around 1200 watts rms?

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

This guy also told me that I would need 2 more 4 ohm subs to get a perfect 1 ohm

i think what i'm getting from this is that you've got two single 4 ohm subs, & both coils are reading 3.9 or so, which is giving you a final reading of 1.8.

if so, he IS correct about needing 2 more SINGLE 4 ohm coils to get you a 1 ohm load.

you can't get a 1 ohm load w/single 4 ohm coils.

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

so here are your options:

- get an amp that does rated power (power needed for your subs) @ 2 ohm.

- get different/same subs w/dual 4 ohm coils, rather than single 4 ohm coils.

- keep it how it is.

 

[bonesninja 5,000+ posts]

exactly what subs and amp do you have?

 

[elpelotero22 10+ year member]

ohhhhhh... one more question... so two 2 ohm subs would wire down to 0.5 ohms but with the impedance rise it will probably come up above 1 ohm, right? Meaning that it would be safe for my amp, that is only 1 ohm stable?

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

ohhhhhh... one more question... so two 2 ohm subs would wire down to 0.5 ohms but with the impedance rise it will probably come up above 1 ohm, right? Meaning that it would be safe for my amp, that is only 1 ohm stable?

incorrect.

you NEVER want to factor impedance rise into your choice of amp.

plus, if you've got two SINGLE 2 ohm subs, that'll wire to 1 ohm or 4 ohm. if you've got two DUAL 2 ohm subs, it'll wire to .5 or 2 ohm.

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

use this website for reference.

http://www.crutchfield.com/learningcenter/car/subwoofers_wiring.html

 

[elpelotero22 10+ year member]

I have a Soundstream PCA1500D.... I have 2 kicker L7's 4 ohms each but not sure if they are dc or single coil.... Now I am lost again.... after u guys told me that the 1.8 ohms makes sense after impedance rise, and are now telling that no, its wrong.... im clueless again...

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

do you have AIM?

i can help you.. get it all figured out.

 

[bonesninja 5,000+ posts]

I have a Soundstream PCA1500D.... I have 2 kicker L7's 4 ohms each but not sure if they are dc or single coil.... Now I am lost again.... after u guys told me that the 1.8 ohms makes sense after impedance rise, and are now telling that no, its wrong.... im clueless again...

are there 2 sets of speaker terminals on each sub or one set per sub?