Setting gain with DMM

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

I just got my new diamond 800.1 amp and I am trying to test it out right now.

When I have the gain all the way up I am only getting a 24.4 AC reading. This amp is suppose to do 800 watts at 1 ohm which would be 28.28 volts

Am I doing something wrong or what?

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[cdimic25 10+ year member]

Check all connections and is the vehicle started?

 

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

Yeah vechicle is started and all connections are good.

I am only using 8 gauge power wire at the moment could that have anything to do with it? (Well actually it wont even reach the 300 at 4 ohm its suppose to so I dont think thats it)

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

is your test tone recorded at 0 db or -3db or somthing like that. it should be 0db and all the eq settings should be flat also.

 

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

Yes and they are all flat

 

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

I am suppose to have my meter set to Vac right?

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

yes, what tone are you using and aslo, what is the pre-amp output voltage of your hu? of course the volume of the hu needs to be about 80%or so and you sub level on the hu(if you have one) should be 80%also.

 

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

sub level is all the way up. pre amp output voltage of my head unit? No idea but I know my old 500 watt amp got the correct readings.

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

can you take the amp back where you got it and get another one to see if it could be a bad amp. is the 800 watts at 1 ohm the rms rating?

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

dose that amp have a selection for high and low input signal?

 

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

Its 300 watts at 4 ohm

600 at 2 ohm

and 800 at 1 ohm

and I bought it used so no

 

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

dose that amp have a selection for high and low input signal?

Just low input signal what should that be at?

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

are you using the remote level controll? some amps, when using the remote, need to have the main gain up allmost all the way but iam not shure about that one. what is the range of the low input selector?(ie-250mv to 5v)

 

[darkhunter139 10+ year member]

Just went out to test it again and it got readings of 60 volts when I had it turned all the way up lol

Must have been doing something wrong the first time.

Is there a way to find out how high I can push this amp without clipping? I have been told its most likely under rated

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

you would need a scope for that, but try setting it by ear just to clipping and then check the voltage. this will give you a rough idea and glad you got it.