When it comes to speakers, there are a lot of ways on how you can connect them. The most common types of connections are series, parallel, and even series-parallel or combination connection. Just by reading from these types, you get the idea that each has a specific way of connecting to a speaker. In this article, you will know how to wire speakers in parallel.
What Is a Parallel Connection?
Parallel connection is one of the easiest ways of connecting or adding speakers. Using a parallel connection reduces the overall resistance of circuit wiring. Simply put, they are the simplest type of electrical circuit to a wire. That is why many people are interested to know how to wire speakers in parallel.
How does the parallel connection work? They work by combining all the positive electrical leads and the other negative leads. Wiring speakers using a parallel connection is the simplest because you will have to add the new speaker’s positive connection to the positive leads and the negative connection to the negative leads, pretty simple, right?
However, although adding speakers using a parallel connection is easy, it decreases the overall resistance, as mentioned earlier. Because of that, the electrical current is increased if you consider Ohm’s Law.
By this, whenever you add another speaker, the resistance decreases, and the electrical current drawn on the amp rises. When a lightbulb is connected in a parallel connection, others are still bright even if one of the bulbs is in trouble. But when your bulbs are connected in a series circuit, when one bulb fails, the rest of the bulb fails as well.
Steps on How to Wire Speakers in Parallel Connection
In parallel wires, two speakers are hooked together; as a result, the impedance is half. So, if you have 8ohm speakers, the resulting impedance is 4 ohms. The steps are a quick and simple thing to do. Here are the steps on how to wire speakers in parallel:
Step 1
Get your terminal cups. Terminal cups are normally found at the back of your speakers. However, in this case, you are making a parallel connection. In choosing the best terminal cup for your speakers, ensure that it is robust and high quality enough to provide dependable wire connections and the best possible surface area for your wires to get the most out of the maximum conductivity.
Step 2
Attach the wire to the cup’s positive terminal to the positive terminal of the first speaker.
Step 3
Attach the second wire to the cup’s negative terminal and the positive terminal of the first speaker.
Step 4
For the second speaker, attach the wire on the first speaker’s positive terminal to the second speaker’s positive terminal.
Step 5
Attach the wire on the first speaker’s negative terminal to the negative terminal of the second speaker.
Whether you are using speakers or subwoofers, the concept is the same if you use parallel as a circuit connection.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Parallel Connection
Now that you know how to wire speakers in parallel, you should also know the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
There are also advantages when it comes to speakers if they are connected in a parallel connection. This includes:
- If one speaker is malfunctioning, the rest of the speakers will still function as they normally are. They continue to provide excellent sound quality if you have reliable speakers. And this is because the current still flows through the entire connection, as they can travel through different paths. Unlike a circuit connection, when one speaker is malfunctioning, every speaker stops functioning too because it cuts the connection.
- Each speaker receives the same voltage as other speakers that are supplied by the power source. By this, one does not mean they are good compared to other speakers, and this is because they share the same voltage frequency no matter where you look at it. On the other hand, a series connection with more speakers tends to decrease the overall electrical current through each speaker.
Disadvantages
- Even though more speakers are connected, the current is still the same. By this, you cannot increase or multiply the speaker’s voltage connected to a parallel connection. Speakers are not utilized with more power.
- Even if the power source supplies more power, the same current flows through the wires. Because of this, the speakers are not fully maximized. When resistance is divided, it increases the speakers’ reliability, so most manufacturers prefer parallel connections.
Conclusion
Learning how to wire speakers in parallel is quite an easy and simple thing to do. If you want to know how to connect, then refer down to the steps above and discover how easy it is to establish a parallel connection.
Besides learning how to wire speakers in parallel, I included some of the parallel connection’s advantages and disadvantages to give you a clever idea of which type of circuitry you will choose. Always remember that when dealing with electric current and wires, be sure always to wear your protective gloves to avoid getting electrocuted.