Measuring RMS

[Essex_Lad]

how can u actually measure what wattage is goin through an amp to see what RMS it really is puttin out?

 

[Essex_Lad]

hello?

 

[Dink]

you could measure it buy playing a pure tone through it

measure the voltage and current output

then P = VI

 

[raf182]

then multiply it by 0.704 and you a nice RMS figure

altho if you were measuring a powerfull output and using a boggo standard multi-meter chances are the current produced would make the meter go POP so prob not really a good idea!

 

[Dink]

most meters that are capable measuring AC current and voltage do so and give you the RMS figure

you would probably have to get a clamp meter to measure it

 

[strax]

There is a quick way that will give you a ballpark figure.

check the size of the fuse on the amp, multiply it by 12(for 12v), then half it and divide it by the number of channels and that will give you about the correct figure. ie.

Example...

4 channel amp with a 30amp fuse. 30 x 12 = 360w /2 (this assumes that your amp is 50% efficient, some are more) = 180w divided by 4 (no of channels) gives 45w rms per channel

I know it is not perfect but it can be quite close.