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Bench testing power amps with a power supply
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<blockquote data-quote="Foxy Love" data-source="post: 8654236" data-attributes="member: 675512"><p>Hi all,</p><p></p><p>Interested in a little technical advice re testing power amps on a test bench (ie with a power supply)...</p><p></p><p>Can anyone with specific experience / specific knowledge advise what sort of idling current could be expected from a high power amp (say rated 1000 watts or so) under a no signal condition?</p><p></p><p>And also - what sort of startup / surge current might be expected?</p><p></p><p>Basically need to quickly test different amps, just to confirm they power up and play a clean signal.</p><p></p><p>In my opinion, a 30 - 40 amp benchtop PSU is more than adequate for this purpose, and should power up any car amp. Totally understand that it may not adequate to run at moderate to high volumes in some cases.</p><p></p><p>And I should also add, this isn't for the purpose of testing repairs, or auditioning etc. Just basically to sort dead ones from potentially good ones in a recycling environment.</p><p></p><p>Can anyone suggest an actual example of an amp that would not be able to simply power up to idle and run a low volume signal with such a power supply?</p><p></p><p>I maintain that no single car amp draws current beyond 30 amps at idle (ie with no signal), and I would be surprised if any amp would draw a startup surge current that would exceed what the PSU is capable of.</p><p></p><p>I have others telling me otherwise, who will point to (for example) 4 x 40A fuses on an amp (ie maximum current potentially close to 160amps) and point out that a 40 amp supply won't even switch it on. These guys know a bit about ohms law, but not much about amplifier design me thinks.</p><p></p><p>I call bullshit on that theory <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> And if an amp is drawing 40+ amps at idle, then that's a hell of a lot of power being magically dispersed somewhere!! I have years of experience with domestic audio, (mains powered class A/B amps etc) but not so much with high power car gear.</p><p></p><p>For the sake of simplicity, I should add that it's not a case of looking at alternative solutions, all I am interested in confirmation that I am correct that a 30 - 40 amp bench top PSU can do this, or if I am not correct, a decent technical explanation as to why not.</p><p></p><p>Cheers!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Foxy Love, post: 8654236, member: 675512"] Hi all, Interested in a little technical advice re testing power amps on a test bench (ie with a power supply)... Can anyone with specific experience / specific knowledge advise what sort of idling current could be expected from a high power amp (say rated 1000 watts or so) under a no signal condition? And also - what sort of startup / surge current might be expected? Basically need to quickly test different amps, just to confirm they power up and play a clean signal. In my opinion, a 30 - 40 amp benchtop PSU is more than adequate for this purpose, and should power up any car amp. Totally understand that it may not adequate to run at moderate to high volumes in some cases. And I should also add, this isn't for the purpose of testing repairs, or auditioning etc. Just basically to sort dead ones from potentially good ones in a recycling environment. Can anyone suggest an actual example of an amp that would not be able to simply power up to idle and run a low volume signal with such a power supply? I maintain that no single car amp draws current beyond 30 amps at idle (ie with no signal), and I would be surprised if any amp would draw a startup surge current that would exceed what the PSU is capable of. I have others telling me otherwise, who will point to (for example) 4 x 40A fuses on an amp (ie maximum current potentially close to 160amps) and point out that a 40 amp supply won't even switch it on. These guys know a bit about ohms law, but not much about amplifier design me thinks. I call bullshit on that theory :) And if an amp is drawing 40+ amps at idle, then that's a hell of a lot of power being magically dispersed somewhere!! I have years of experience with domestic audio, (mains powered class A/B amps etc) but not so much with high power car gear. For the sake of simplicity, I should add that it's not a case of looking at alternative solutions, all I am interested in confirmation that I am correct that a 30 - 40 amp bench top PSU can do this, or if I am not correct, a decent technical explanation as to why not. Cheers! [/QUOTE]
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