Can I wire 2x 8ohm speakers both ways at once

[Ralf1e]

The challenge is can I wire a 2x 8ohm speakers in one cab both in series to a jack socket to use with one amp (16 ohm output) and in parallel  to a speakon socket for an alternative amp

(4ohm )output without using switching or will the speakers being wired both ways at once cause expensive smoke.

Amps connected one at a time to either not both at once.

I should be able to see this but I can't get my head around it.

Born too soon I expect

Edited March 7, 2023 by Ralf1e
typo

[Downunderwonder]

Without a switch you are getting smoke. Too late for me to draw you a diagram but someone will. Follow it very carefully or you will get smoke.

[itu]

I already see smoke...

 

If your other amp has tube power amp, wire the cab to fit it. Solid state is more immune to load.

[Dan Dare]

The problem is that you will short the + and - speaker terminals even if you follow your plan to wire the different configurations to different sockets. Try drawing both wiring types and see. You could break the shorts using switches, but forget to set them correctly just once and it's probably bye bye amp. I wouldn't risk it.

[Ralf1e]

I will wire it to the 16 ohm in series as that is a tube amp that can do 8 or 16 and the other is a Peavey Mini Mega at 4 ohms with power to spare.

Thank you for the help and quick responses. I am not risking switches

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Wire it parallel for 4 ohms. Tube amps aren't bothered by lower impedance loads than the tap rating. It's higher impedance loads that they don't care for.

[Baloney Balderdash]

Can I drive both back and forth from A to B (and back to A) at the same time, using the same traffic lane?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The answer is: YES You Can!

 

If you just drive fast enough!

 

But not without causing a car and space time continuum crash... 

 

Edited March 7, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

You can in Italy. For that matter it's mandatory.

[itu]

3 hours ago, Bill Fitzmaurice said:

Wire it parallel for 4 ohms.

There's another point in parallel wiring: if the other element happens to break, some of the load still remains.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

It's also harder to mess up parallel. That's the only reason I can think of for Ampeg using 32 ohm drivers in the 810 SVT.