Maximum Allowable Amperage into a Speaker

[avliner]

Guys,

just out of curiosity and it may sound like a dumb question though, but is it possible for a speaker - whatever size/model - to support a high amperage, such as 30 - 40A without any real damage??

 

[PENG]

Not the typical book shelf and smaller tower speakers you will find in most hi-fi/ht stores for sure. First of all the speaker will have to dip to very low impedance to allow such magnitude of currents to flow (remember Ohm's law?). Larger 4 ohm towers with multiple drivers obviously can and will take higher current. Even then, in most cases, the speaker will likely be able to handle such high currents for short durations only.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Guys,

just out of curiosity and it may sound like a dumb question though, but is it possible for a speaker - whatever size/model - to support a high amperage, such as 30 - 40A without any real damage??

To add to PENG, you can play with Oh's power formula knowing a speakers impedance or there abouts and see how much power is delivered at 30A, if you can deliver such current to a speaker. The voltages to the amp depends on the amp rails but somewhere about 30V, maybe 40V?
Frequency is also an important factor. You don't want to fry a tweeter, right?

For example: P= IxE or P=IxIxR@ 30V and 30A, your amp needs to be able to deliver at least 900 watts But, into 4 Ohms, 900x4=

Or, another example: if you are pumping 1000W into a sub say 4 Ohms, that is only about 15.8A so you have a long way to go to reach 30A

 

[GranteedEV]

http://www.danleysoundlabs.com/pdf/JH90 spec sheet.pdf

 

[PENG]

http://www.danleysoundlabs.com/pdf/JH90 spec sheet.pdf

I would run that one with a 100A main to give it a little bit of headroom.

 

[mtrycrafts]

http://www.danleysoundlabs.com/pdf/JH90 spec sheet.pdf

Except for the low drivers, I don't think I see 30A into the mids and highs, do you? And even the lows, I'd have to calc to see what each driver would be getting.

Yep, those low drivers would be getting about 27A each.
But then, I would have to know exactly how avliner meant the current into the speakers, each driver or as a whole unit.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I would run that one with a 100A main to give it a little bit of headroom.

That may not be enough either , not with a 20% headroom for the circuit.

 

[avliner]

...But then, I would have to know exactly how avliner meant the current into the speakers, each driver or as a whole unit.

Thanks a lot guys!

I meant the whole unit though. It really seems weird to me that a single speaker, no matter what size is, can draw such a big amperage though, I mean twice as much as a standard CB...

 

[PENG]

That may not be enough either , not with a 20% headroom for the circuit.

I did say a little bit, would you like me to define a little bit.

 

[PENG]

Thanks a lot guys!

I meant the whole unit though. It really seems weird to me that a single speaker, no matter what size is, can draw such a big amperage though, I mean twice as much as a standard CB...

Think about an electric motor. The speaker has a voice coil, make that coil with thick enough wire it will take whatever (you said no matter what size) you want it to take. Anyway, that's just for argument sake, you and I both know you won't find too many of such speakers in the most homes.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks a lot guys!

I meant the whole unit though. It really seems weird to me that a single speaker, no matter what size is, can draw such a big amperage though, I mean twice as much as a standard CB...

It seems obvious to me looking at that link of that monster stadium type speaker system, and the capacity of consumer tweeters that the tweeters use a lot less power than the lows and the mids. And of the two, certainly the lows takes the most. 30A is a lot into speakers though, especially consumer types for homes.