metalheadjoe 10+ year member
Unapologetic prick
The question wasn't about how they COULD function. That's why I said your other comment was irrelevant to mine. I know how they COULD function. For that reason, I told OP he has to test his equipment himself if he wants the correct answer.Alright, I'll bite.
The 3 amps I actually remember the measurements on are here:
My Boston Acoustics GT-2300 I ran years ago was rated 1000w into 4 ohms bridged. O-scope gave me 66v clean at 4 ohms so roughly 1100w actual power. The clip light on the remote came on at 62v, which is 961w and coincidentally below the rated power.
The taramps smart 3 I currently run is rated at 2000w at 4 ohms. I get clipping at about 94v or 2200w. I'm getting some voltage drop at that power level so it varies a little. The clip light comes on at about 92v or about 2100w, but the display on top of the amp peaks almost dead on the 94v reading.
The Saz 1500d I ran was putting out 43v into 2 ohms or roughly 925w. The clip light would come on at a hilarious 40v which is 800w.
I really don't know what crawled up your *** or who is ******* your wife while you are at work but not all clip lights are created equal. And measuring actual output of an amp while driving a reactive load can be a bit tricky. Nothing I have said is speculation beyond how the clip lights COULD function. Getting opinions on odd situations is part of why forums exist. You may know everything there is to know about all things audio, but the rest of us mere mortals like to discuss **** like grown-ups. And sometimes we discuss **** just for fun!
Have a great day, and may your perfectly accurate clip light serve you well and your coils stay virgin.
Matt
I know what clipping is and how it can be detected. I didn't interpret OP's question as a request for electrical theory; I took it as he wanted real-world experience.
Comparing the light to output voltage is not accurate. Actual output varies based on impedance, and impedance varies with frequency. That certainly explains why you responded the way that you did when I said I tested mine, as you must've assumed I tested my clip light with a multimeter.
My amp is an Orion HCCA5000.1DV2. I tested the clip light against my oscilloscope. The light was surprisingly accurate. You can criticize me all you want for sharing my actual experience, and I will criticize you for trying to detect clipping with a multimeter.
I apologize if OP was looking for theoretical accuracy or speculative circuitry. I apologize for insinuating he test his own gear to find an accurate answer to his question. Speaking for myself: if I ask a question to a community dedicated to a subject, I am looking for knowledge, not hypotheses.
I don't know all things audio, but I must've gotten you a little worked-up to say that. Have a snickers.
No hard feelings. I just have little patience for people who speculate or guess in response to questions, as it doesn't help anyone and potentially harms them.
Hope you also have a great evening.
- Joe