measuring wattage..

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

if you go into the deep details it'll give ya nothin but a headache and make ya think that your amp is weak when it says "1000 rms"

That is for sure. You never will have "optimal" power. You will always be lower then you think you should be. It's just a fact of life.

 

[Kenny Pollock 10+ year member]

How expensive is the equipment?

I want to see what my four Sundown SAZ-1500Ds put out with my electrical system in my car.

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

I'm not sure, I don't see the need. You can get a semi-acurate reading without the true RMS type. Just get 2 regular DMM's, make sure one reads amperage (you might need a clamp-meter to measure higher amperage). You can do the same thing, but it won't be an actual, but it will be pretty dang close.

 

[Kenny Pollock 10+ year member]

The only "need" for it would be that different people have seen different results with the same amps... so I'd like to see what I get out of mine.

So just two DMMs?

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

Yes. But it depends on how much current you need to measure. I would get a clamp meter to make sure you dont exceed the limits of the DMM. And those will give you a fairly close reading.

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

That is for sure. You never will have "optimal" power. You will always be lower then you think you should be. It's just a fact of life.

exactly, that's why i'm just glad if my bass is loud enough for ME, i don't care how much power it is, hell it could be 50 watts for a rock song and not even know it, the power varies all the time. as long as i'm satisfied, i just throw that RMS figure out hte window //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

Yep, thats all that really matters. if it's enough for you, who cares how much exact power the subs are getting. I can see why someone would want to know, but it also leads to dissapointment.

Just know not to adjust your gains to get up to what you think you should be, it could be harmful.

 

[Mr Bojangles 10+ year member]

I'm just wondering if i need to upgrade my electrical system. I'm running 1200wrms (supposedly) but just wanting to make sure, because if I'm not i need to upgrade..

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I'm just wondering if i need to upgrade my electrical system. I'm running 1200wrms (supposedly) but just wanting to make sure, because if I'm not i need to upgrade..

Knowing the exact output of your amplifier doesn't matter with regard to upgrading your electrical system. You don't need to bench test the amp or otherwise measure it's output to know whether or not you need to upgrade the electrical system. All that matters is how the electrical system handles the stereo. If you aren't getting serious voltage drop, then you are fine. If you are getting substantial voltage drop, then it's time to upgrade.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

Knowing the exact output of your amplifier doesn't matter with regard to upgrading your electrical system. You don't need to bench test the amp or otherwise measure it's output to know whether or not you need to upgrade the electrical system. All that matters is how the electrical system handles the stereo. If you aren't getting serious voltage drop, then you are fine. If you are getting substantial voltage drop, then it's time to upgrade.

WoRd!

 

[Mr Bojangles 10+ year member]

I'm def getting substantial voltage drop, not only when idle, or stopped at a red light.. That's why i want to know how many watts i'm pushing so i'll know if the amp is even pushing close to 1200 with voltage drop

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I'm def getting substantial voltage drop, not only when idle, or stopped at a red light.. That's why i want to know how many watts i'm pushing so i'll know if the amp is even pushing close to 1200 with voltage drop

If it has an unregulated power supply; probably not....unless the amp is underrated by a good margin or the output was rated at 12V and you're not dropping much below 12V.

Upgrade your electrical system if you are getting substantial voltage drop, as you say you are.

No bench testing needed.

How low is your voltage dropping ?

 

[Mr Bojangles 10+ year member]

idle= 9-10

driving= 10-12

Amp is underrated.. BP1200.1 (good solid amp, inefficient looks are not impressive, but good raw power)

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

[No message]

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Sounds like you've got a bad connection somewhere.