Knowing how to test an amplifier using a multimeter may sound like a challenging task. However, with the right tools at hand and proper safety understanding, you can save lots of trouble, time, and money too. There are several key factors to consider before charging your multimeter with an amplifier. This article laid down simple tips and solutions that you can follow to help troubleshoot your audio equipment. So get set and start reading.
How To Test An Amplifier
How to test an amplifier can be easy if you know what you’re doing, but it can be dangerous if you don’t know anything about it. Make sure to use the correct opposites when connecting any electrical item to the device to avoid severe damages. It is not advisable to test the Amp on a car if the amplifier has visible burn marks or damaged parts.
Here is a way how to test an amplifier.
- Attach the wires for power (red) and ground (black). It would have 12-volt electricity flowing in and a strong ground for an amplifier to operate. Unless the intention is to see if it works, there’s no need to stack it. Few amps involve grounding the chassis.
- Touching the amplifier’s electricity wire to the car’s battery positive post and the ground to the negative battery post is one of the easiest things. If the load turns on, you can determine there is a strong connection device in the amplifier.
- Link the amplifier with a mic. Attach the speaker wires or RCA cables coming from the audio system to the speakers in jacks. Whether the amplifier puts out audio, link an amplifier to the amplifier’s output voltage. There is a fair possibility that the device is damaged and will not operate if the amplifier is on, but no vibration. The amplifier is good if the sound comes out of the speaker, and it does not sound warped or blurry.
- Check all accessible fuses and use one fuse in the amplifier. It is installed in the amp chassis. Usually, with a color-coded, plastic body, they are the two-pronged plug kind.
- If the amplifier does not switch on when electricity and ground are properly connected, check the fuse before thinking the circuitry is burned inside. If the Amp’s connection is good, search, and see whether the power wire has an inline fuse. It is also in a black or transparent plastic shell that breaks or bends apart in the middle.
A round plastic fuse with metals on both sides and a short wire running through its center would be the fuse. The fuse is weak and should be repaired if the fuse is broken or rusted. The wire within it is in two parts for the amplifier to power on.
How To Configure Amplifiers Using Multimeter
It’s not hard to configure a multimeter, even if you are new to using it. The black probe must go negative. In the socket called A, the red one passes in. A refers to amperage. You can find two separate sockets, one of which is more responsive, while another is high-amp. Use the port with the highest ranking, if not certain which one to try.
Switch the multimeter’s central dial to the amperage setting that corresponds to the socket. There is a slight probability that these settings would look different, but they mean the same thing. On either the Amp and multimeter, you may find A and mA options, but you may also find only one A setting.
Tips and Factors Your Amplifier May Be Damaged
Understanding how to test an amplifier and knowing the cause of the power switching off is highly advisable. Alligator clip guides are also a fantastic idea. Due to its small surface, the elevated current will disrupt the detector. The current is then spread over a larger region if you connect alligator clip leads. You reduce the risk of harming yourself, and when you are adding them, the electricity must be off.
- The amplifier doesn’t power on
Test the fuse and both sides of the battery. This diagnosis can not be made by looking. You may need to adjust the fuse, inspect the remote wire, or verify the amplifier terminal’s voltage. Disconnect it all and turn the Amp back on. If it always goes into safe mode, there’s a problem with that. Going back into the safe mode of security implies that the speakers have a problem. The culprit may be the wiring.
- The amplifier is in protect mode
Unplug anything and switch the Amp back on. If it always goes into defense mode, there’s a problem with that. Make contact with your speakers if not. Going back into the role of security implies that the speakers have an issue. It may as well be the insulation.
- The amplifier turn on without output
Get into all configurations and all volume settings. You may use an alternate input to check where the issue lies.
- Distorted output
Eliminate all the factors and test all the options again. There’s no other good way to find out where the issue may be.
- The Amp has low output
Switch down the sound and the subsonic filter, too. Move up, and go back again and also check the connection. You may also see the problem by the voltage drop at amp ports. The speakers need to remain over 12 volts.
- The Amp has unsteady power
Activate the device and double-check the current before the Amp switches off. Go through the wires if it falls below 10V.
It can be a difficult, risky job to fix a damaged amplifier. With at least a general understanding of how to test an amplifier and safety cautions, you are good to go. If you’re not entirely sure what’s going on, it would be best to call a friend or a family member who knows how to pull out the equipment’s warranty tab. Learn more about amplifier here.