Help with Ohms equation

Dont really know. I have read that an attenuator can be straining enough even when its matched properly. With a load mismatch it sounds like it would be dangerous. Bob

 

It should be fine. Lets say you are attenuated about half way to 8db or so. 50 % of your amps "sees" the 16 ohm load of the hotplate the other 50 % "sees" the correct 8 ohm load. Its never going to "see" more than 16 ohms and should be safe given that 16 ohms is safe to begin with.

 

8 into 16 into 8...fine
8 into 8 into...fine
8 into 4 into 8...not fine

 

fwiw, the THD Hotplate manual specifically states not to mismatch at all.

 

Would any of these be preferred:

4 into 8 into 4

or

8 into 8 into 4

?

 

What about 4 into 8 into 8

The 4 being a bandmaster reverb