Need to verify some info.

[LOUD02Special]

So after talking to the techs at Kicker, they recommended checking the ohms at each sub. The sub amp is currently starting in protect mode. It will occaisionally turn on for about a minute when turned on after a little while being off. The reading I got on my meter at the terminal to each box was about 2 ohms, which to me says one sub is pretty much dead, because each line should be testing out at 4 ohms since it's a single two ohm line split and run parralell. My boggle is that if I disconnect one or the other sub, the same thing still happens. The tech said the most ideal way to find which sub is fried is to test it at the sub leads themselves. Any input?

[00R/T]

You can't measure impedance with an ohmmeter. The unit of both impedance and resistance is the ohm, which confuses people. They are NOT the same thing. Resistance is the opposition to current flow in a DC circuit. Impedance is the opposition to current flow in an AC circuit. Impedance is determined by resistance, but also inductance and capacitance. Since your ohmmeter is using DC, it cannot measure the effect of the inductance and capacitance.

[LOUD02Special]

You can't measure impedance with an ohmmeter. The unit of both impedance and resistance is the ohm, which confuses people. They are NOT the same thing. Resistance is the opposition to current flow in a DC circuit. Impedance is the opposition to current flow in an AC circuit. Impedance is determined by resistance, but also inductance and capacitance. Since your ohmmeter is using DC, it cannot measure the effect of the inductance and capacitance.

So, in English, how the hell do I tell what's wrong? I have a multi-meter, nothing too fancy.

[00R/T]

First things first. What subs do you have and how are they connected to each other, to the amp, etc ?

[LOUD02Special]

2x Boston Acoustic G512 Single 4 ohm voice coil subs. Kicker ZX1000.1 stable 2 ohm load of 1000W RMS. The line is parallel from the subs to the amp, and the two speaker lines join approximately half-way between the subs and the amp.

[00R/T]

So, like this?
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e333/steviedevie/parallelsubs.jpg

[LOUD02Special]

Yup.

[00R/T]

OK, so you measured the combined resistance at the wire that woudl be connected to the amp, and then you disconnected the subs from each other and the amp and measured them both separately?

If I understand correctly, each of the subs measured a resistance of 2 ohms? If that's the case, I can't see your subs being the problem. When a speaker "blows", the voice coil heats up and you get a short in the coil, or the coil acts like a fuse and a gap is burned in it causing an open. These conditions would result in zero or infinite resistance, respectively, with the former being the only one that would cause the amp to enter protect mode.

[LOUD02Special]

OK, so you measured the combined resistance at the wire that woudl be connected to the amp, and then you disconnected the subs from each other and the amp and measured them both separately?

If I understand correctly, each of the subs measured a resistance of 2 ohms? If that's the case, I can't see your subs being the problem. When a speaker "blows", the voice coil heats up and you get a short in the coil, or the coil acts like a fuse and a gap is burned in it causing an open. These conditions would result in zero or infinite resistance, respectively, with the former being the only one that would cause the amp to enter protect mode.

I measured the resistance at the terminal of each box. I'm gonna pull each sub tomorrow. Each sub has a fuse at the push terminals built in. I'll have to check them individually.

[hardwareguy]

In most cases, a 4ohm impedance speaker will have a DC resistance of around 3 ohms, give or take up to about a half ohm or so..... that's a general statement and not an absolute rule however.

Test the DC resistance with the cone at rest, and then test it with the cone pressed in and out....you could have an intermittent short in the driver, check to make sure the voice coil leads are not slapping against the basket.

[LOUD02Special]

Turns out a screw on the mini anl fuse was loose, causing unstable voltage.