PA amps "amp draw"

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Vital
Vital Posts: 747
edited March 2011 in Car Audio & Electronics
Looked up some ARC AUDIO stuff today, noticed this nice "spec" listed - amp draw. Basically tells you how many amps it draws in certain configuration.
Pretty cool info if you ask me.

Anyone know what PA amps' draw is?

Power output RMS @ 4 ohms 150 x 2 watts 73 amp draw
Power output RMS @ 8 ohms bridged 300 x 1 watts 34 amp draw
Power output RMS @ 4 ohms brdged 600 x 1 watts 69 amp draw
Power output @ 2 ohms bridged 600 x 1 watts 95 amp draw


http://store.arcaudio.com/products/productdetail/SE%202150/part_number=SE2150/1735.0.1.1.55619.0.0.0.0?pp=8&
2008 Nissan Altima
Kenwood DNX 5140
Arc Audio IDX and XEQ
Polk Audio SR6500 active and SR124-dvc sealed
Polk Audio PA500.4 and PA1200.1
Post edited by Vital on

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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited March 2011
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    Wow thats a very inefficient amp...

    150w x 2 and it draws 73 amps... That's using 73 amps to do 20.8 amps worth of work. Or 28.5% efficient.

    At the most this amp is about 61% efficient, but it seems all over the board. I think those specs are wrong, at 300x2 it only draws 36 amps..
    Main Surround -
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2011
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    Class AB amps ain't that efficient. I doubt its even as high as 60%. Class D are the 65% and up amps. Those specs aren't really out of line with other amps.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
  • Vital
    Vital Posts: 747
    edited March 2011
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    So u're saying PA amps' draw would be more or less alike within the power/ohm ratio?

    In that case i really need some more edumecation on how things work. Logically i don't really get how my stock alternator that puts out 120A can keep up with PA500.4 and PA1200.1 which according to ARC's info as an example would pull about those same 120A. Ofcourse that is in addition to all the stock things in the car this alternator was made to "feed" to begin with....
    2008 Nissan Altima
    Kenwood DNX 5140
    Arc Audio IDX and XEQ
    Polk Audio SR6500 active and SR124-dvc sealed
    Polk Audio PA500.4 and PA1200.1
  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2011
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    Because those are max ratings. Your amp isn't drawing max amperage all the time. Kinda like how your car can go 100 mph. Are you driving 100 mph all the time?

    Also, your stereo is pulling amps from the battery which is capable of 500+ amps. The alternator is merely recharging it.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D