posted
can anyone help me step by step thru this. what setting do i put the volt meter on and where do i put the leads? same with the clamp. what setting and where do i put it? i did a search and couldnt find anything on it.
-------------------- http://cardomain.com/id/jkd20bry Eclipse CD 8455 2- XX Colossus II amp's 2- Eclipse SW 9152 PRO Ti's 5- yellow tops 95 Chrysler Sebring w/wall Posts: 190 | From: grandjunction, colorado | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
Put the leads of the multimeter on the output terminals of the amp set on volts and put the ammeter around either output wire on the amp. Then hit hold max on both (if you have that feature), burp, and multiply both the voltage and current by 0.707 to get the RMS values (or you could find their product and just divide by two for power.)You will have to check the manual on this because some multimeters/ammeters can hold RMS values and some only max values.
Posts: 225 | From: Calgary, AB | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
i tried it like you said and got 4.3 for volts and 6 for amps. i must be doing something wrong. the colossus would have to put out more than that during burps. i put volt meter leads on + to + and -to- at the speaker output terminal, and put the clamp over the + speaker wire about 2 inches out from the speaker out put terminal. what am i doing wrong ?
-------------------- http://cardomain.com/id/jkd20bry Eclipse CD 8455 2- XX Colossus II amp's 2- Eclipse SW 9152 PRO Ti's 5- yellow tops 95 Chrysler Sebring w/wall Posts: 190 | From: grandjunction, colorado | Registered: Apr 2006
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One voltmeter lead should be on a positive terminal, one on a negative. The clamp will read the same on either wire since the same current going out is going in. Make sure the voltmeter is on AC current (usually just a squiggly line on the meter).
Posts: 225 | From: Calgary, AB | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
You can't get accurate readings using peak hold on the meters. The power has to be the voltage and amperage at the same instant.
Don't worry about multiplying for RMS because most meters are RMS meters anyway. You can check by probing a household wall socket on the AC voltage setting. If it reads around 110-130v you have an rms meter.
Also when you are doing power tests, do more then one test. You may only be putting out a small amount of power.
Using the numbers of 4.3v and 6.0. Are you only using one channel of the amp or are you running the amp mono? How do you have the subs wired?
-------------------- Just some thoughts from a nobody. Posts: 3622 | From: Lakewood,Ohio | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
This one's a really old thread, but could you use two DMM's and just put the test leads from one meter into the speaker wire's and then the leads from the second meter into the power and ground wires near the amp? Or do you really have to buy a clamp meter?
quote:Originally posted by SPL Creator: This one's a really old thread, but could you use two DMM's and just put the test leads from one meter into the speaker wire's and then the leads from the second meter into the power and ground wires near the amp? Or do you really have to buy a clamp meter?
you have to use a clamp meter
you are testing the current of SPEAKER wire, not 12 volt into the amp
so its a/c instead of d/c
-------------------- Posts: 6554 | From: Russellville AL | Registered: Nov 2002
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quote:Originally posted by SPL Creator: This one's a really old thread, but could you use two DMM's and just put the test leads from one meter into the speaker wire's and then the leads from the second meter into the power and ground wires near the amp? Or do you really have to buy a clamp meter?
you have to use a clamp meter
you are testing the current of SPEAKER wire, not 12 volt into the amp
so its a/c instead of d/c
I realize this, my DMM tests AC and DC voltages. I've already used this to check my AC voltages during burps and for finding my peak volume so I know about AC voltages in speaker wire. My question was about whether or not a DMM would give the same readings as a DMM.
Anyone know a good Fluke Clamp meter model number I should look for?
quote:Originally posted by SPL Creator: This one's a really old thread, but could you use two DMM's and just put the test leads from one meter into the speaker wire's and then the leads from the second meter into the power and ground wires near the amp? Or do you really have to buy a clamp meter?
you have to use a clamp meter
you are testing the current of SPEAKER wire, not 12 volt into the amp
so its a/c instead of d/c
I realize this, my DMM tests AC and DC voltages. I've already used this to check my AC voltages during burps and for finding my peak volume so I know about AC voltages in speaker wire. My question was about whether or not a DMM would give the same readings as a DMM.
Anyone know a good Fluke Clamp meter model number I should look for?
ahh gotcha, i misread then
If it measures a/c current accurately then it'll work just fine!
-------------------- Posts: 6554 | From: Russellville AL | Registered: Nov 2002
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