Music average Current Draw...

[iLL Ridge 10+ year member]

I'm testing this new digital volt/amp meter.

Not sure of accuracy-- doesn't seem too far off.

I've got it wired to only measure my mono amp's current draw. And voltage wired to a common ground.

0 gauge from stock battery to trunk. 4 gauge to amps

0 gauge ground

Anyway with car running- sub amp on, but no volume--

14.4-14.1V 1.0 amps

Lowest voltage on music- 13.3v --50 amps biggest peak i've seen so far.

I think I just answered my own question------

Running my amp at 4ohms rated at 800 rms--- I'm only going to see 500-600 watts on average and only on peaks-- briefly. 13v*50 amps = 650 watts --- right there at it-- hmm.

And i guess that digital meter is pretty accurate-- close enough

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[bamaman]

I'm not 100% on this but I believe you have to factor in the efficiency of the amp also.

Sent from my SM-N930V using Tapatalk

 

[iLL Ridge 10+ year member]

Yep. You're right.

but at 4 ohms with a class D stable to 1 ohm ??--- still prob 80% efficient i would think?

 

[iLL Ridge 10+ year member]

But my main takeaway is at normal listening, my system seems to draw VERY little current.

Maybe 10 amps on peaks playing loudly.

Is this normal?

 

[Roland 10+ year member]

But my main takeaway is at normal listening, my system seems to draw VERY little current.Maybe 10 amps on peaks playing loudly.

Is this normal?

Depends. if the music isn't very demanding, sub...

I experimented with fuses, I wanted to see how small a fuse i could use before blowing the fuse. my front stage could only blow a 30 amp fuse at max volume level with very demanding music, but it could easily bow a 80 amp fuse with a test tone

 

[iLL Ridge 10+ year member]

yeah i was just surprised at how little the draw is.

Wonder why we even bother with large gauge wire.