Trying to bench test amp

[srb 10+ year member]

I'm trying to learn how to do a basic bench test an amp, I have a good multimeter and AC clamp meter, but unfortunately no oscilloscope. My car holds a steady voltage of 14 volts when the amps played at full volume (40hz -5 db test track). But I need a resistor. I don't know where to get one or what type of one to get. Please help, I would like to test the amp at 1 ohm.

I tested the amp using a speaker instead of a resistor and got 790 watts, the amp is rated at 1800.

Click to read more...

 

[wickedwitt 10+ year member]

Musically speaking, that was probably a fairly accurate reading.

 

[srb 10+ year member]

Musically speaking, that was probably a fairly accurate reading.

Ok so my results wouldn't be way off not using resistors?

 

[wickedwitt 10+ year member]

Ok so my results wouldn't be way off not using resistors?

I'm saying that unless you are strictly burping this setup, you have a more accurate reading of what to expect than if you used resistors. If you are going to be burping the same note exclusively, get resistors to do your testing.

 

[srb 10+ year member]

I'm saying that unless you are strictly burping this setup, you have a more accurate reading of what to expect than if you used resistors. If you are going to be burping the same note exclusively, get resistors to do your testing.

Im not I just wanted to check the actual performance of the amplifier. I knew it was overated, I didn't realize it was overated by 1000 watts lol

 

[wickedwitt 10+ year member]

Im not I just wanted to check the actual performance of the amplifier. I knew it was overated, I didn't realize it was overated by 1000 watts lol

Again, musically you are going to see many inefficiencies as well as impedance rise that will mean you typically won't see rated numbers out of it. If it makes the music loud, that's all that matters:fro: Don't get too hung up on actual wattage.