Measuring an amp on 13.8Volts Vs 14.4Volts?

 

Bronze Member
Username: Aooo

Post Number: 71
Registered: Sep-05
For example 2 Amp
one rated 60Wrmas on 14.4Volts
the other Rated 80Wrms on 13.8Volts
Which of the 2 would be more powerfull, if you rated the 80Watts on 14.4 would it be more, or less?
 

Silver Member
Username: Fandim

Reno, Nevada United State...

Post Number: 281
Registered: Jun-05
ok well, I'm assuming since they listed the voltage at which they put out the RMS, that they're obviously unregulated amps. First thing you need to find out - is if they're both CEA rated, and the true power output, as a lot of amps underrate, and overrate their actual power output..

Also, a lot of the times, power to voltage ratio, is not linear.. It might jump 3 RMS for .1, then jump .5 RMS the next .1 volt.. so really difficult to tell, without actually testing the amp..
 

Bronze Member
Username: Aooo

Post Number: 73
Registered: Sep-05
Yes The 60Wrms is CEA thus the 14.4Volts its a JBL amp.
The other is A soundstream and is not CEA and measured at 13.8Volts
Jbl or Soundstream?
I actually need the power but I'm not shure it actually has more power :-)
 

Silver Member
Username: Alias747

MN

Post Number: 770
Registered: Apr-05
Well of they are both honestly rated there is no doubt which one will give you more power. Because the Soundstream is already giving you more power at less voltage. So if you rate the Soundstream @ 14.4v it will be giving even more than 80 wrms. This is all assuming that it was a honest rating in the first place, and since you are talking about Sounstream, I would feel pretty safe that it is.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Aooo

Post Number: 75
Registered: Sep-05
Ok thanks Isaac
People have told me that Jbl is the better maker, I do know that Soundstream are known for their amps so...?
 

Bronze Member
Username: Aooo

Post Number: 76
Registered: Sep-05
Then I guess CEA is not that good then, Part of that standard is the fact that they measure at 14.4Volts, You will never get 14.4Volts in your car I think?
 

Silver Member
Username: Spyder

Eglin AFB, Florida USA

Post Number: 132
Registered: Jun-05
with an H.O. Alt you will!!
 

Silver Member
Username: James_g

TN

Post Number: 292
Registered: Jul-05
I thought Soundstream was now manufactured by Power Acoustik?
 

Platinum Member
Username: Glasswolf

Wisteria, Lane USA

Post Number: 10676
Registered: Dec-03
take the wattage and divide by the voltage.
that gives your amperage.
multiply the amperage by the different voltage and you'll get the new wattage.

that holds true for any amplifier with an unregulated power supply and output stage.
 

Platinum Member
Username: Glasswolf

Wisteria, Lane USA

Post Number: 10677
Registered: Dec-03
"Then I guess CEA is not that good then, Part of that standard is the fact that they measure at 14.4Volts, You will never get 14.4Volts in your car I think?"

wrong.
my car runs 14.4VDC above idle all day long.
It's just a matter of what your voltage regulator is set or adjusted to put out after the alternator and rectifier bridge.

most alternators above idle put out 13.8 to 14.4VDC
CEA just uses a fixed voltage so any amplifier with an unregulated power supply won't be misrated due to a non standard voltage being used between companies. If the amp has a regulated power supply, it won't matter anyway. The power supply will fix the voltage by varying the duty cycle before the output stage.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Aooo

Post Number: 78
Registered: Sep-05
It will only fix the voltage to whatever it can and stay steady? It won't fix it to 14.4V though will it? I have a Golf 2002 with stock Alt will it be pushing enough amps for a 14.4Volt output?
Anyway I guess that the Amp measured on 13.8Volts would be the better buy as suggested.
 

Platinum Member
Username: Glasswolf

Wisteria, Lane USA

Post Number: 10707
Registered: Dec-03
the duty sysle varies to compensate for a lack of voltage, or too much voltage in much the same way as a line conditioner works for AC current, but only provided there is enough current to do so.
If the alternator isn't strong enough, you have problems regardless of how tightly the power supply of the amplifier is regulated.
sorry.

here's a bit of info on charging system upgrades
http://www.wickedcases.com/caraudio/capacitors.html
http://www.wickedcases.com/caraudio/charging.html
http://www.betteraudio.com/geolemon/newmain/battcapalt/
http://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm
http://www.bcae1.com/chargin2.htm

also in the guides page of wickedcases, the first link to amplifier fundamentals covers power supplies, too.. explaining more about them. bcae1.com has good info on this as well if you're of a mind to learn more.
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