I have a 4-Channel Amplifier rated at 800 Watt RMS per channel @ 2 Ohm load. Channel 3 and 4 are preset to operate a subwoofer speaker while Ch 1 and 2 are set to operate mid-range speakers at reasonable operating frequencies:
- Ch 1: Has a 2 ohm load (2 speakers @ 200 Watts RMS each wired in parallel) which is less than 800 Watt max for the channel
- Ch 2: Has a 2 ohm load (2 speakers @ 200 Watts RMS each wired in parallel) " "
- Ch 3: 2 ohm load (One 4-Ohm Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer rated at 800 Watts RMS and wired in parallel) - amp should be able to produce ~800 Watts RMS of power to this Subwoofer speaker that is also rated at 800 Watts RMS
- Ch 4: Currently has nothing connected to it
First, is this the right way to calculate expected maximum output voltage per channel? (Assume no speakers are connected)
- Ch 1: Power=(V^2)/Resistance -> V = sqrt(Power*Resistance) = sqrt(800*2) = sqrt(1600) = 40 V (I am expecting 40 V at the output terminal of this channel)
- Ch 2: Is wired the same way as Ch. 1
- Ch 3: Is wired the same way as Ch. 1
When I ACTUALLY measure the AC voltage output I get the following on a voltmeter that is set to AC Voltage and speakers are connected:
- Ch1 reads [0V-6V] as I tune its gain from [nothing to maximum] at 1000 Hz tone
- Ch2 reads [0V-6V] as I tune its gain from [nothing to maximum] at 1000 Hz test tone
- Ch3 reads [0V-27V] as I tune its gain from [nothing to maximum] at 50 Hz test tone
As you can see, all of the voltages read are less than what is expected if I am correct. I am in fact getting sound from my entire system but I feel that I am not getting the maximum output before distortion for my subwoofer. In other words, I feel that I am not getting 400 Watts out of the subwoofer @ 50 Hz test tone. All power ratings given are in RMS.
- Is the value read from AC voltage on the multimeter Voltage peak to Peak, Amplitude, or RMS Voltage?
- Is my method for calculating expected voltage per channel correct?
I can't find any resources online to help exactly help me figure this out. Any help would be much appreciated. Please let me know where I could be going wrong with the mathematics, wiring or what the right way to set this system up might be.
Thanks.