One thing I never understood about amp ratings

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:07 pm

Most amp specs show watts at 14.4v and then other watts at say 13 or 12 volts.

How do you control the volts going to your amp and what would most amps be getting? 14.4?

Help me understand this.

Mastiff · Post by **Mastiff** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:38 pm

ok simple the rating is shown like so

@ 14.4 volts the output = 20

@ 13 volts output = 15

@ 12 volts = 10

your not varing the input per say its just saying at that input voltage it has X amount of output. yes its a #'s game

most cars today have a voltage output around 13.8 ish

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:42 pm

Ok, now heres my next question,on my deck theres a voltage meter, and it shows a pretty constant 14 - 14.5 volts. So is that what the amps are getting?

Mastiff · Post by **Mastiff** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:43 pm

brand of deck ?

most likly no its just a ref point at best mostly eye candy

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:44 pm

pioneer 6800mp

Post by **mr tibbs** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:44 pm

Capital_M wrote:Ok, now heres my next question,on my deck theres a voltage meter, and it shows a pretty constant 14 - 14.5 volts. So is that what the amps are getting?

Personally I would not trust that volt meter on the deck. It might be close, it might not be close. The best way to know is to check it with a DMM at the amps themselves.

Mastiff · Post by **Mastiff** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:47 pm

Capital_M wrote:pioneer 6800mp

ok I am with Tibbs on this pioneer makes a good deck but what you have with the meter is eye candy

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:48 pm

ok cool, well thanks for explaing the volts to amp shit

Mastiff · Post by **Mastiff** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:51 pm

Post by **smgreen20** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:19 pm

I have the 980BT and the voltage readout on it is within .1-.2 v of my DMM.

Mastiff · Post by **Mastiff** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:43 pm

and your brand of DMM?

Post by **smgreen20** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:20 am

A true rms ideal.

02bluesuperroo · Post by **02bluesuperroo** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:40 am

The voltage at the deck has very little to do with the voltage at the amps. You would want to check the voltage at the amp.

With that being said, you shouldn't experience much voltage drop from the battery to the amps.

Mastiff · Post by **Mastiff** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:22 am

^^^^^hey you best post some pics of that amp installed!