how do you test amplifier wattage

[spencer321 10+ year member]

i have an amp clamp, a DMM and i can get an oscilloscope from a buddy of mine...

how do i test my amps "real" power?

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[marcotheclepto 10+ year member]

i have an amp clamp, a DMM and i can get an oscilloscope from a buddy of mine...
how do i test my amps "real" power?

good question, i know how to set gains according to rating but testing power is anthoer story.

 

[spencer321 10+ year member]

i have an "idea" but i want someone who knows exactly what they are doing to tell me, cuz if its inacurrate its pointless and on top of that its a hifonics bxi2k so maybe someone would actually be interested in the results

 

[eutechnyx 10+ year member]

Well you can get an estimate by the fuse ratings on the amplifier...

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

How do you plan to test the voltage? do you want to do this in your car?

 

[spencer321 10+ year member]

How do you plan to test the voltage? do you want to do this in your car?

i was planning on it, i thought you used the DMM for voltage and ohms (imp rise unless your using a resistor) the amp clamp for amps(obviously) and the o scope is just to keep you from clipping the shit out of the signal/ set gains properly

jacob from sundown does them in the vehicle... is that a problem, i honestly don't know im trying to find out

 

[spencer321 10+ year member]

Well you can get an estimate by the fuse ratings on the amplifier...

yeah... but i wanna know REAL power, not estimate not guessing not "well the company says"

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

you can use a clamp meter to measure speaker wire current and a volt meter to measure the amp's voltage at the speaker outputs -- P=IE

The problem is accurately getting the amp just to its optimal output w/o clipping it.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

you can use a clamp meter to measure speaker wire current and a volt meter to measure the amp's voltage at the speaker outputs -- P=IEThe problem is accurately getting the amp just to its optimal output w/o clipping it.

This.

Tho, the problem is trying to catch the numbers. If you use peak hold, it's not accurate because it takes the peak current and voltage... which could occur at different times.

nG

 

[spencer321 10+ year member]

This.
Tho, the problem is trying to catch the numbers. If you use peak hold, it's not accurate because it takes the peak current and voltage... which could occur at different times.

nG

if your using a test tone will you still get peaks and spikes? it "should" remain pretty constant or not at all, again i dunno which is why im asking lol

 

[spencer321 10+ year member]

you can use a clamp meter to measure speaker wire current and a volt meter to measure the amp's voltage at the speaker outputs -- P=IEThe problem is accurately getting the amp just to its optimal output w/o clipping it.

if i use an o-scope i can watch for the flat spots in the curve tho right? thats what clipping looks like on a scope the top and bottom of the curve will square off

clamp around speaker wire... does it matter which one? (pos or neg) and dmm at the speaker outs from the amp

 

[spencer321 10+ year member]

bump

 

[lostdaytomorrow 10+ year member]

P = I*v

 

[tinmanchris217 10+ year member]

You can use a clamp meter to measure and a volt meter to measure the amp's voltage at the speaker outputs -- P=IE

This. nG

This.

Assumption: Your electrical can keep your voltage steady at full tilt (for a 8-10 seconds).

1) Pause your HU on the target tone (after you've used the o-scope to maximize gain without clipping).

2) Set up your clamp around the speaker wire, on AC Current.

3) Set up the voltmeter leads on/in each speaker terminal, on AC Volts.

4) Burp! (unpause momentarily) //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/sick.gif.b1847c8dabbfeeddbcf1a78052249e10.gif

5) Wait a couple seconds for the system to stabilize.

6) Read the meters simultaneously. note: a digital pic makes it easy.

7) Re-pause the HU and turn everything back down.

Power = Current * Voltage

Impedance (after rise) = Voltage / Current

 

[aho77 10+ year member]

u got it clamp the pos termal to get the amp draw corect then use the pos and neg on ac volts then u difid the 2 numbers this gives u clamped power