Powering sub before purchase

[arsonbob 10+ year member]

I am going to buy some subs from someone who lives nearby. I would like to power them up first though. What is the simplest way to do this, they are not installed in a car. I do have an amp, but it isn't hooked up to anything. Thank you.

Also any tips before buying these would be great. IE what to look for how to check them, what to listen for.

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[bri487 5,000+ posts]

if a spaeker is blown or bad, you will know.

 

[jujumantb 10+ year member]

if you want to just check if they are blown, put a DMM to each coil measuring resistance. If you dont have one, put a 9volt battery to the terminals. If you want to listen for mechanical noise, you'll probably just have to jerryrig your amp and free-air them.

 

[arsonbob 10+ year member]

if you want to just check if they are blown, put a DMM to each coil measuring resistance. If you dont have one, put a 9volt battery to the terminals. If you want to listen for mechanical noise, you'll probably just have to jerryrig your amp and free-air them.

I'm very new to all of this and i'm just trying to get an introductory system that is decent, so thanks for the help. Also, what is DMM? and if i was to put a 9volt to the terminals it powers the sub or what? I'm more worried about if it's blown or such, otherwise If it was a discrete problem I might not even notice it.

 

[JohnnyChuttz 10+ year member]

DMM=Digital Multimeter(Two probes and a box with a screen on it)

9 volt battery will move most subs to near max excursion when you hook a wire to it and the battery( You would be able to hear a scrapping noise if sub is blown, no noise = good sub)

 

[arsonbob 10+ year member]

Thanks guys, I think i'll try to nine volt trick. I assume that the spacing on the battery leads is different than on a sub though, so should i bring a little extra wire to attach to the nine volt leads to the sub terminals?

 

[mazdakid 5,000+ posts]

your not seriously asking us that, are you?

 

[bjfish11 5,000+ posts]

you could always take an old lamp, cut off the wire about a foot beyond the socket, strip the wires and plug them in to the nearest wall socket. This will help. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/up2something.gif.dd110ecf3ae4b76050d87598f2f8de7c.gif

 

[ssj2xxgotenxx 10+ year member]

you could always take an old lamp, cut off the wire about a foot beyond the socket, strip the wires and plug them in to the nearest wall socket. This will help. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/up2something.gif.dd110ecf3ae4b76050d87598f2f8de7c.gif

LOL!

 

[arsonbob 10+ year member]

your not seriously asking us that, are you?

Yes I am seriously asking that. I don't know what to check for, as I clearly already stated. Blah blah blah "i'm noob" blah. Ok then Mr. Wizard, help me the **** out?

 

[arsonbob 10+ year member]

you could always take an old lamp, cut off the wire about a foot beyond the socket, strip the wires and plug them in to the nearest wall socket. This will help. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/up2something.gif.dd110ecf3ae4b76050d87598f2f8de7c.gif

I'll pass.

 

[mazdakid 5,000+ posts]

well it just kinda sounds like common sense to bring some wire if you want to try the sub man

 

[jujumantb 10+ year member]

Thanks guys, I think i'll try to nine volt trick. I assume that the spacing on the battery leads is different than on a sub though, so should i bring a little extra wire to attach to the nine volt leads to the sub terminals?

yes, but usually the spacing on the 9volts terminals matches up with the sub's terminals.

 

[arsonbob 10+ year member]

yes, but usually the spacing on the 9volts terminals matches up with the sub's terminals.

Ok thank you. That's all I needed to know. I planned to bring some regardless, but just knowing what to expect helps, somehow.

Thanks for all the help guys. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[bjfish11 5,000+ posts]

Ok thank you. That's all I needed to know. I planned to bring some regardless, but just knowing what to expect helps, somehow.
Thanks for all the help guys. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

oh, your welcome, anytime! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif