Car running when setting gains with DMM?

[MellowHype 10+ year member]

Yes or no?

Seems obvious now i think of it that the car should be running when setting gains since thats the only time it'l see 14 volts, but i dont think i have had engine running previously.

Not too sure how much it would have effected my settings :/

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[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

if the car is on, the voltage rails on the amp will be higher and you will be able to get more power out of the amp. if the car is running you use the 14.4V power ratings.

but our voltage can drop down to battery float voltage, so we want to be aware of the limitations of our systems at lower voltage. if you set gains at 12V then you use the 12V ratings.

 

[MellowHype 10+ year member]

if the car is on, the voltage rails on the amp will be higher and you will be able to get more power out of the amp. if the car is running you use the 14.4V power ratings.
but our voltage can drop down to battery float voltage, so we want to be aware of the limitations of our systems at lower voltage. if you set gains at 12V then you use the 12V ratings.

Okay so my amp does 1000rms @ 1 ohm - 14.4v

So 1 x 1000 = 1000

square root = 31.62, so thats my voltage?

Im a little confused as to how thats lower than when i was running a single 12 @ 700 rms @ 2 ohms... the voltage for that is 37.

So is 31.62 right for 1000 @ 1 ohm? powering 2 x subwoofers

Its just i was expecting to be turning the gain up not down

 

[argenis69 10+ year member]

Okay so my amp does 1000rms @ 1 ohm - 14.4vSo 1 x 1000 = 1000

square root = 31.62, so thats my voltage?

Im a little confused as to how thats lower than when i was running a single 12 @ 700 rms @ 2 ohms... the voltage for that is 37.

So is 31.62 right for 1000 @ 1 ohm? powering 2 x subwoofers

Its just i was expecting to be turning the gain up not down

Because the higher the ohm load is, the more voltage is needed to output.

 

[MellowHype 10+ year member]

Because the higher the ohm load is, the more voltage is needed to output.

Ah right. Well i hope i havent done any damage to my amp or subs. my gains weren't changed from 37volts, i didnt play at full volume for too long though.

 

[argenis69 10+ year member]

Ah right. Well i hope i havent done any damage to my amp or subs. my gains weren't changed from 37volts, i didnt play at full volume for too long though.

Also, I believe it's best to set the gains with the alternator's highest voltage possible to avoid overpowering the speakers.