How to Wire a Dual 2 Ohm Speaker

There's a method for wiring a dual 2-ohm subwoofer.

Dual-voice coil speakers are typically subwoofers. The inclusion of two voice coils lets the user wire the speaker to different impedances. This is useful because it gives the installer the option to use different types of amps and different numbers of subwoofers. This method, called parallel wiring, halves the impedance of the speaker to 1 ohm.

Things You'll Need

• Speaker wire
• Wire cutters
• Wire strippers

Instructions

1. Cut two lengths of speaker wire with a pair of wire cutters. The first length should be long enough to reach from the amplifier to the your subwoofer. The second, long enough to reach from the sub's first set of speaker wire terminals to the second set.

2. Split the ends of each piece of wire in two, to separate the two leads. Pull the wires apart to separate 1 to 2 inches of wire.

3. Remove 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of each piece of wire with a wire stripper.

4. Unscrew one set of speaker terminals on the subwoofer so that the opening in the terminal post is visible. Insert the positive leads of one end of each of your wires--the short and long--into the positive terminal and tighten the terminal to hold the wire in place. Repeat this with the negative terminal. The positive terminal will be colored red, and the negative terminal will be colored black.

5. Loosen the second set of speaker terminals. Slide the other end of the short wire into the terminal post's hole--the positive lead to the positive terminal, and the negative to the negative. Tighten the terminals to hold the wires.

6. Loosen the speaker terminals of the amplifier with a screwdriver or an Allen wrench. Slide the positive lead of the long wire into the positive terminal and tighten it. Slide the negative lead into the negative terminal and tighten it.

References

• "Car Stereo Cookbook"; Mark Rumerich; 2005