ok so cars are about 12v right... then y are amps rated with 14.4 volts sometimes... is that cause of the 4volt preout.. woud that do that... how can u get 14.4v with out a huge alt.

 

14.4V is obtainable by use of bigger and better batteries and alternators.

This is actually kind of important. Amplifiers are rated at 14.4V mainly because it inflates numbers. If you aren't going to be running 14.4V into it the numbers of the amplifiers capabilities will fall..... Not an overly excessive amount but a little bit still. Personally it's never mattered to me that much, or enough for me to change my system set up. That and MTX amps are actually rated at 12V.

 

actually mtx amps are rated both 12 and 14.4... i also wondering what the 4volt preout will do .. will that add volts to amp at all?

 

Actually that really isn't the correct answer. Cars are a "12 volt" electrical system. This means the battery is a 12 volt battery. When your car is off you'll be pushing between 12 and 12.6 volts normally. But when you turn the car on, you'll be getting anywere from 14 to 14.8 volts. This is because you engine is engaging the alternator and causing a higher voltage then when it is off. 4 volt preouts are good for a cleaner signal to the amp not for a higher voltage.

This is an incorrect response:

"14.4V is obtainable by use of bigger and better batteries and alternators.

This is actually kind of important. Amplifiers are rated at 14.4V mainly because it inflates numbers. If you aren't going to be running 14.4V into it the numbers of the amplifiers capabilities will fall..... Not an overly excessive amount but a little bit still. Personally it's never mattered to me that much, or enough for me to change my system set up. That and MTX amps are actually rated at 12V."

You don't need bigger batteries or alternators to achieve that. Your car already does. See for yourself. Take a multimeter to the ignition wire in your ignition harness. It will tell you. I see it everyday when I drive. My Passport 8500 has a digital voltage readout.

Amplifiers aren't rated at 14.4 to "inflate numbers." 14.4 is a more real world input since most of the listening is done with the car on. Amps that are rated at 12v actually will push out a little more than advertised because they will run at 14.4 but the amps that are rated at 14.4 will put out pretty close to what you read.
Most of the amp manufacturers use the 14.4 rating now because it is more accurate.

I really wish people that don't know what they are talking about refrain from posting misinformation. Oh well. Hope this clears your questions up for you.

 

yep, a fully charged battery is capable of outputting 12.6V, but when the car is on, the alternator is running and this creates a voltage of around 14.4V. exactly what SmokinSilverEvo said

 

Ours car generally supply between 14.3-14.7 volts when running and a fully charged battery is considered to be between 12.85 and 12.90 volts

 

Thanks. I was wondering why I became a licensed installer. Then I read stuff like that and remember it was to stop the spread of bad information from infecting the world. Lol.

I need a beer now.

 

cheers to correct information!

 

lol, good info have 2

 

Lol. I'll have enough tomorrow night since its my best friend's birthday. My birthday gift to him: first (other than myself) to drive the Evo when I pick it up in a couple of weeks. I think thats a good gift no? Cheers.

 

lol it's a good gift, make sure he's not intoxicated at that time tho

 

yea, we dont need the wrecked thread any bigger

 

Smokin, you're right for the most part...

Just going to add this - with a stock charging system (with no cap, no yellow top, etc) the voltage of your car will dramatically drop during a really demanding bass note. So, on a hard bass note (lets use 35 hz), your amp will draw more power, thus the voltage drops...sometimes to 13V, sometimes to 11V...depends on a lot of things...

Just adding that...not to confuse anyones

And smokin, you're right...im just adding things

 

For one. He'll be straight when he drives the Evo. Second you're absolutely right (SK_Lancer). If a car is an automatic, it's even worse. When it is stopped, but still in gear, the voltage really drops.

 

i am impressed some one got it write. but also don't forget when you add larger altanators and caps it will increase or decrease the draw and voltage