Spider27 Posted January 4 Posted January 4 (edited) Hello, I am trying to make a simple external speaker switcher between Speaker A and B with parts that l already have laying around. The toggle switch that I have has spec 250v 3A, 125v 5A. Since it is not directly connected to AC main but just toggle between Speaker A and B, would it be ok to use this toggle switch? Thank you.. Edited January 4 by Spider27 1
mwhouston Posted January 4 Posted January 4 45 minutes ago, Spider27 said: Hello, I am trying to make a simple external speaker switcher between Speaker A and B with parts that l already have laying around. The toggle switch that I have has spec 250v 3A, 125v 5A. Since it is not directly connected to AC main but just toggle between Speaker A and B, would it be ok to use this toggle switch? Thank you.. Yes. 1
Spider27 Posted January 4 Author Posted January 4 2 minutes ago, mwhouston said: Yes. Thank you, Mark. I was reading online and someone mentioned, "The Mouser switch is rated to 1A max, that's not enough (by far: max. 4W with a 4 Ohm speaker). 5A will be safe for 100W, 10A for 400W. Since speaker impedance can get lower than 4 Ohm go for 10A (better safe than sorry)." If speakers are 4ohm impedance, do I need 10A switch instead? 1
mwhouston Posted January 4 Posted January 4 3 minutes ago, Spider27 said: Thank you, Mark. I was reading online and someone mentioned, "The Mouser switch is rated to 1A max, that's not enough (by far: max. 4W with a 4 Ohm speaker). 5A will be safe for 100W, 10A for 400W. Since speaker impedance can get lower than 4 Ohm go for 10A (better safe than sorry)." If speakers are 4ohm impedance, do I need 10A switch instead? 10A @ 4ohms. is 400W. Could be loud! 1
Spider27 Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 22 minutes ago, mwhouston said: 10A @ 4ohms. is 400W. Could be loud! Yep. I would be using amps much less powerful than 400W for sure.
Spider27 Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 This may be a crazy idea and just came up to my mind. What happens if both amps are connected to one pair of speakers using two sets of speaker cables and turn on either amp at any given time so forego Speaker AB switcher altogether? Speaker binding post can cater both spades as well as banana plugs so one amp is connected to speaker via Spades and the other amp connected using banana plug and turn on only one amp? Only catch is that one amp will be solid state and the other one will be vacuum tube amp. Not sure if it will make any negative impact on vacuum tube amp. Crazy and big no no? 1
mwhouston Posted January 5 Posted January 5 11 minutes ago, Spider27 said: This may be a crazy idea and just came up to my mind. What happens if both amps are connected to one pair of speakers using two sets of speaker cables and turn on either amp at any given time so forego Speaker AB switcher altogether? Speaker binding post can cater both spades as well as banana plugs so one amp is connected to speaker via Spades and the other amp connected using banana plug and turn on only one amp? Only catch is that one amp will be solid state and the other one will be vacuum tube amp. Not sure if it will make any negative impact on vacuum tube amp. Crazy and big no no? Not hard to draw two amps into two pairs of speakers. Have a go. Think what you are switching to where and where that goes. Each speaker only requires one speaker lead. You need four DPDT switches (I think). Not sure without drawing it.
Spider27 Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 14 minutes ago, mwhouston said: Not hard to draw two amps into two pairs of speakers. Have a go. Think what you are switching to where and where that goes. Each speaker only requires one speaker lead. You need four DPDT switches (I think). Not sure without drawing it. Thank you. What happens if I do not use switches at all but use two pairs of speaker cables to connect both amps (one solid state and one tube amp) to one pair of speakers (speaker has beefy binding posts that can cater both spades and banana plug) but only turn on either amp (not both amps) at any given time? 1
mwhouston Posted January 5 Posted January 5 1 minute ago, Spider27 said: Thank you. What happens if I do not use switches at all but use two pairs of speaker cables to connect both amps (one solid state and one tube amp) to one pair of speakers (speaker has beefy binding posts that can cater both spades and banana plug) but only turn on either amp (not both amps) at any given time? Not good. Could cause permanent damage. 1
Spider27 Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 Just now, mwhouston said: Not good. Could cause permanent damage. Great to check with you first. I will just go with speaker switcher instead. 1
mwhouston Posted January 5 Posted January 5 (edited) 1 hour ago, Spider27 said: Great to check with you first. I will just go with speaker switcher instead. So one amp two pairs of speakers? Jaycar has all you need including enclosure. Edited January 5 by mwhouston
Spider27 Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 2 minutes ago, mwhouston said: So one amp two pairs of speakers? Jaycar has all you need including enclosure. Actually two amps, one pair of speakers. 1
mwhouston Posted January 5 Posted January 5 1 minute ago, Spider27 said: Actually two amps, one pair of speakers. Two DPDT MINI power switches will work. 1
mwhouston Posted January 5 Posted January 5 Is one a tube PP amp. They should not be on into no load. But if you turn it off before switch over you should be fine. 1
Spider27 Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 1 minute ago, mwhouston said: Is one a tube PP amp. They should not be on into no load. But if you turn it off before switch over you should be fine. Yep. it is push pull tube amp and thank you for the tip. Will ensure that turn off the amp first before switching. 1
Spinspin69 Posted 16 hours ago Posted 16 hours ago On 05/01/2025 at 11:35 AM, mwhouston said: Not hard to draw two amps into two pairs of speakers. Have a go. Think what you are switching to where and where that goes. Each speaker only requires one speaker lead. You need four DPDT switches (I think). Not sure without drawing it. Built mine with a single 4PDT 10A switch works perfectly. Switching between 75w/channel tube amp and Marantz AV receiver into 100w 8ohm speakers. As others have mentioned never run a tube amp SE or PP without load. 1
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