Author Topic: Parallel or Series W/ iPhone 6S  (Read 7059 times)

TwinStar

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Parallel or Series W/ iPhone 6S
« on: January 31, 2017, 02:58:40 PM »
I've installed two of the following speakers in my P2K E7:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/192002165374?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

and have them powered by an LM-2S. Should I wire them in series of parallel?

Jacob
Jacob Damron
Modeling late 1950's Dallas Union Terminal in Free-mo+ modules

Texas Railway Modeling and Historical Society trmhs.org
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KPack

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Re: Parallel or Series W/ iPhone 6S
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2017, 03:17:23 PM »
I tend to wire my speakers in series because it presents a 16 ohm load to the amplifier, thus decreasing how many watts the amp puts out.  This does two things: 1.) it prevents the amp from damaging the speakers when the max wattage of the speaker isn't known (most of the ones I've used are 2 watt max, but many are 1 watt max), and 2.) it keeps the sound from being obnoxiously loud.  The sounds coming out of our locomotives should be pleasant to the ear, not migraine-inducing.

-Kevin

TwinStar

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Re: Parallel or Series W/ iPhone 6S
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2017, 03:22:12 PM »
Kevin:

That's how I wired them but was considering going the other way. I like the 'background' noises as well but sometimes haveing a nice BBBLLLLLLLLATTTTTTTTTT of the horn is cool too;)

Jacob
Jacob Damron
Modeling late 1950's Dallas Union Terminal in Free-mo+ modules

Texas Railway Modeling and Historical Society trmhs.org
trmhs.org

Alan

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Re: Parallel or Series W/ iPhone 6S
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2017, 03:50:27 PM »
You could have a happy medium by wiring the speakers in parallel with a 8 ohm resistor in series. Assuming the speakers are 8 ohm each, that would equal 12 ohms total  8/2 + 8  so you have more volume but still retain the safety factor Kevin mentions.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2017, 05:45:14 PM by Alan »
Alan

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When I was a kid... no wait, I still do that. HO, 28x32, double deck, 1969, RailPro

KPack

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Re: Parallel or Series W/ iPhone 6S
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2017, 05:42:42 PM »
I still get plenty of volume when I wire in series.  In fact, all of my multiple speaker installations are at 50% master volume or less (and some are down at 30% master volume) with most other sounds around 40%.  The only sound I keep up in the 90%'s is the horn.  And at 50% master volume the horn is plenty loud. 

Alan, good idea on the resistor.

-Kevin