Elk-120 voice module help with speaker connections

[robolo]

So I just got my Elk-120 Recordable Voice Module which I plan to use to send a doorbell sound through the same ELK speakers (20 watt 8 ohm) currently hooked up to my M1. I have 5 of the ELK speakers all in parallel (home-runned to the ELK panel) and they work fine for ELK announcements.

Do I just connect the speakers to both the ELK M1 output AND the ELK-120 output? When I have read other posts there are discussions about the use of relays to switch audio inputs. It is not clear if those would be needed in this case.

Thanks in advance for any guidance
robolo

 

[robolo]

Nosing around a little more in the archives I think I answered my own question. What IVB did which was to place a 10uF 35-50 VDC nonpolarized capacitor on both speaker terminals from the Output 1 of the Elk M1 and the Elk-120 and then connect both in parallel to the speakers.

A confirmation of this from anybody would be most appreciated.

robolo

 

[tmbrown97]

I'm about to do the same thing... but I'll be using either diodes or relays to create isolation. The safest is to use relays to switch to the 120, play the recording, then switch back... Otherwise you could probably use a diode to prevent power from one getting back to the other - if that matters.

There's others on here who would know more about the implications of them sending power/sound through each other. Now I'm curious about IVB's post though, so I guess I'm going on the hunt.

 

[robolo]

:blink:-->QUOTE(Todd B @ Sep 5 2008, 09:55 PM) [post="95896"][/post]
I'm about to do the same thing... but I'll be using either diodes or relays to create isolation. The safest is to use relays to switch to the 120, play the recording, then switch back... Otherwise you could probably use a diode to prevent power from one getting back to the other - if that matters.

There's others on here who would know more about the implications of them sending power/sound through each other. Now I'm curious about IVB's post though, so I guess I'm going on the hunt.[/quote]

Here is his diagram:
http://www.myhometheaterpc.com/temp/IVB_M1...akers_Voice.jpg

 

[IVB]

oops, sorry, didn't even notice this post. Life was a little wacky the last few days.
Looks like robolo hooked you up.

 

[robolo]

I got things hooked up and working and did not end up using the capacitors. Just connected the Output #1 of ELK M1 and ELK-120 in parallel to the speakers and everything seems to work OK. Hopefully I am not going to slowly fry anything.


robolo