6 replies to this topic

[Dolts]

how can i measure the wattage of the system in my fiancees car? people ask what wattage it is but we dont know!
Gareth

[LardySBC]

Add up the amount of power your amp is putting out.

I hasten to add, your AMPS, not the SPEAKERS.

If you have an amp that does 4 x 100w RMS, and you have 2 mids and 2 tweets running from it (actively, but dont worry about that it will confuse you as such) then the likelyhood is that you have got say 60W going to the mid-bass, and then 10W to the tweets.

If you have an amp that is a 2 channel that does 400W RMS, then you can say you have 400w, but the sub is likely only getting 300W, if you see what i mean. It is extremely hard to get the full power from an amp, due to insufficient power supply from the car.

I have probably just totaly confused you, LOL. If i have just shout and i'll try and explain a bit more.

[Dolts]

Thats fine mate, was just wondering if there was a way of putting a meter across both amps to get a reading?

[philster]

just say you've got 5000watts pmpo

Seriously though why do you need to know?

[Dolts]

just someone was asking what wattage it was.

The amps have 280 on them.....

[mini_basser]

How come you don't know? What kit is in there?

If you want to *really* know how much power an amp is putting out...

...you need an AC clamp meter and a standard multimeter to monitor the voltage and current in the speaker cable leaving the amp. Play a test tone, note down the current and voltage... then apply some maths (of which I forget the exact formula, though it's a a pretty basic one)

[LardySBC]

Again, trouble is a test tone is not really a true figure either. Music is the only way but good luck getting a figure, lol.

Power means nothing to be fair. If they are asking about wattage, they know nothing, so tell em a giga watt.