Rewiring speaker cab

[Bababueee]

I currently have a mesa 50/50 poweramp and a legacy 4x12 wired at 8ohms per side. I was wanting to get the legacy bottom cabinet for a full stack. I was wondering if anyone could give some advice on how to wire the cabinets.

Each cabinet has 4 16 ohm vintage 30's. The poweramp has one 8 ohm output and two 4 ohm outputs per side. How should i have the speaker cabinets wired?

Thanks in advance!

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/3chRecto.pdf

on page 32, you'll find a detailed explanation on speaker wiring. everything you need to know to hook it up right is right here starting on page 32 (of acrobat).

~JW

[Bababueee]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

Thanks for the link. If i'm understanding correctly, i could wire the 4 16ohm speakers in parallel, equaling 4ohms, correct? That would give me two 4 ohms cab's. With the 50/50 having two sides, must the ohm load equal 8ohms? Or am i ok using one 4ohm output on each side of the amp?

Im clueless with ohms... correct me if any of the figures are wrong.

[zeegler]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

If I were you, I would read the manual for your amplifier very carefully to determine if you will be okay running one of the 4 ohm outputs for each side. The easiest would be to use 8 ohm cabs, but since they are loaded with 16 ohm speakers, you don't have that option. You are actually safe using the cabs as they are with the 8 ohm outputs. The amp might not be as loud, but you will not damage it.

I have been doing the same with my RGT100. I have the 8 ohm output going through a 16 ohm cab. To be honest, I don't notice a drop in volume at all. This thing is LOUD!!!

However if your manual says you can run only one 4 ohm output each side at a time, then you're good to go, and can safely run the cabs rewired at 4 ohms.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

no you do not want to make each cab 4 ohms!!!

if you do that you will be runing at 2 ohms if both cabs are connected.

wire them series parrallel so that each cab remains 16 ohms. then when both cabs are plugged in at the same time, you will be drawing an 8ohm load off of your power amp.

read that section a few times till it sinks in. i know its confusing at first but after a few reads you'll understand it.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

1 cab = its rated load draw on you amp
2 cabs = half there rated load draw on your amp.

2, 8ohm cabs pull 4ohms from your amp
2, 16ohm cabs pull 8ohms from your amp

[Bababueee]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

[ QUOTE ]
no you do not want to make each cab 4 ohms!!!

if you do that you will be runing at 2 ohms if both cabs are connected.

wire them series parrallel so that each cab remains 16 ohms. then when both cabs are plugged in at the same time, you will be drawing an 8ohm load off of your power amp.

read that section a few times till it sinks in. i know its confusing at first but after a few reads you'll understand it.

[/ QUOTE ]

But the mesa 50/50 poweramp has 50 watts per side. thus two separate sets of speaker jacks. My question now is if i can run only one of the 4 ohm outputs per side... or if the load per side has to equal 8. The manual didnt say. A call to mesa will probably clear all this up. Thanks for all the help thusfar!

[zeegler]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

I'm surprised the manual doesn't tell you. You have the right idea. Call Mesa to make sure. Dreamland Rebel is talking about hooking both speakers up to one output. I don't think he realizes that it is a stereo poweramp.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

i do know its a stereo power amp. i just remember reading the manual and it talking about that stuff. and i think you still treat it like a mono amp. call mesa

[zeegler]

Re: Rewiring speaker cab

[ QUOTE ]
i do know its a stereo power amp. i just remember reading the manual and it talking about that stuff. and i think you still treat it like a mono amp. call mesa

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe it has separate outputs for each side. Both sides are treated as a separate amplifier, and each has one 8 ohm outout, or 2 4 ohm. I am guessing that if you use the 4 ohm, you have to use both. (or technically all 4)