Voice coil heating is a major cause of loudspeaker damage and failure, and thus, a major limitation to power handling capacity. It increases according to electrical input and according to the overall thermal resistance, or temperature rise per unit input power of the voice coil. The overall thermal resistance is a direct result of a variety of heat transfer mechanisms, including conduction, radiation, natural convection, forced convection and heat storage. An analysis, including transient behavior, is presented. This analysis includes a description of all contributing factors and provides a final equation for voice coil temperature as a function of electrical input and loudspeaker parameters. Data and data-gathering methods are presented and discussed in support of the analysis, including transient heat transfer. Lastly, various designs are discussed, including several unique and patented inventions.

Author: Henricksen, Clifford A.
Affiliation: Electro-Voice, Inc., Buchanan, MI
AES Convention: 80 (March 1986) Paper Number: 2343
Publication Date: March 1, 1986 Import into BibTeX
Subject: Sound Reinforcement and Loudspeakers
Permalink: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=5087

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