Wiring question

[Unregistered]

I have a stereo amplifier that has no mono/stereo switch. I want to drive only one speaker (with 4 ohm impedance) and need the information from both left and right channels. When I simply connect both speaker output Pluses to one speaker terminal and both speaker output Minuses to the other speaker terminal, the amplifier shuts down. How can I wire this so it works correctly?

Thank you,
Roger Fukai
raf@rogerfukai.com

 

[JohnA]

Make sure

I have a stereo amplifier that has no mono/stereo switch. I want to drive only one speaker (with 4 ohm impedance) and need the information from both left and right channels. When I simply connect both speaker output Pluses to one speaker terminal and both speaker output Minuses to the other speaker terminal, the amplifier shuts down. How can I wire this so it works correctly?

Thank you,
Roger Fukai
raf@rogerfukai.com

You need to make sure that the Amp can handle a 4 ohm load. What you need to do is take the (+L) to the (+) on the speaker and take the (-R) to the (-) on the speaker and then connect the amp (-L) to the amp(+R).

This will bridge the amp into mono. But make sure the amp can drive a 4ohm load.

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to do some more research to see if the amp will handle a 4 ohm load OK.

 

[markw]

That's not bridging an amp.

a

You need to make sure that the Amp can handle a 4 ohm load. What you need to do is take the (+L) to the (+) on the speaker and take the (-R) to the (-) on the speaker and then connect the amp (-L) to the amp(+R).

This will bridge the amp into mono. But make sure the amp can drive a 4ohm load.

That's trying to put both channels in series and it sounds kinda dangerous to me.

When you bridge an amp. you have circuitry on the front end that splits the signal in such a way that each amp handles half of the signal. When you connect the speakers, youi connect up the hot of one channel and the negative of the other channel. There is NO jumper between the unused terminals.

What he's doing is trying to combine the output of both channels. Amps don't like this and generally react exactly as this one did. He's lucky that it powered up again.

 

[JohnA]

Thanks Mark

I stand corrected....you are correct mark, there should be no jumper. I must be loosing my mind

 

[dreadstar]

You need to check to make sure your amp can be bridged to mono. if you have space concerns try using a pair of small speakers stacked side by side or on top of each other and run it in stereo mode if your amp will not allow you to do this. Another idea is to build a custom speaker with 2 4" full range drivers in it and send both left and right from the amplifier to the speaker with independent hookups for each driver. That way the speaker itself sums the signals.