DVC (Dual Voice Coils)

[Eklipze3k]

Explain them to me, or more specifically help me to understand if having DVC in this case is a waste of money.

I've bought an amp (Boss OL3KD) which runs 4ohms at 1100wRMS
My subwoofer (Boss Outlaw L12) is capable of 1000wRMS at 2, 4 and 8ohms

According to the manual for the sub though, to make it run at 4ohms (and get the most out of the amp) it looks like I'm only wiring it up to ONE voice coil.

Am I reading that right? If I wire it up as suggested for 8ohms will it cause damage to the sub?

I've attached PDF's for both manuals.

Cheers

 

[Shadeyman]

If your amp is capable of 1000 watts at 4 ohms and you wire the sub for 8 ohms you've basically doubled the resistance so you halve the output(500 watts).

If you wire the sub for 2 ohms you've halved the resistance so double to output(2000 watts).


As your amp has a fixed output of 1000 watts at 4 ohms its best to wire the sub to accept the 1000 watts at 4 ohms...... I think.

Edit.
In answer to your question, Yes in this case it is a waste of money.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Cheers Shadey, ah well, money is spent now, wish I'd found those PDF's before parting with the portraits of Her Majesty but you live and learn.

 

[volxstu]

You should never only use 1 coil of a DVC sub. If each coil is 4 ohm then you can only run it a 2 or 8 ohm. Most amps will either not work or blow up on 8 ohms. So your only option is to run it at 2 ohm.
I would suggest scoping the system and amp as you will need to send a clean signal to avoid blowing it up.

As for overpowering. As long as its clean and you keep the gains down it should be fine. Im giveing my 200w RMS mid bass a pretty much true 400w RMS and they are fine.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Thanks Stu, the more I thought about it yesterday the more I thought running it at 2ohm (and keeping the gain, etc low) was probably the better option. What do you mean by 'scoping'?
I don't plan on giving it the full beans anyway, and considering the size of my car if I did it'd probably blow the windows out, lol.

 

[volxstu]

Use a hand held Oscilloscope to check the sine wave for clip. Youl be surprised how easy it is to send a clipped signal.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Ahh, thanks for that
I don't have one though, are they expensive?

 

[Eklipze3k]

Apparently I can get an Android oscilloscope app for free, I guess the next question either way is ... what am I looking for?

 

[volxstu]

You need to electronically connect the 3 1/2 mm socket to the output of your amp.
You need something like the cable in the top left of this pic
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARM-DSO20...cilloscopes&hash=item1e63e89eca#ht_1325wt_907