9 ac power draw andthermal dissipation – Crown Audio MA-1202 User Manual
Page 29

page 29
MA Series Power Amplifiers
Operation Manual
This section provides detailed information about the amount of power 
and current drawn from the AC mains by Macro-Tech 602, 1202 and 
2402 amplifiers and the amount of heat produced under various condi-
tions. The calculations presented here are intended to provide a realistic 
and reliable depiction of the amplifiers. The following assumptions or 
approximations were made:
• The amplifier’s available channels are loaded, and full power is being 
delivered.
• Amplifier efficiency at standard 1 kHz power is estimated to be 65%.
• Quiescent power draw is 90 watts (an almost negligible amount for 
full-power calculations).
• Quiescent thermal dissipation equals 105btu/hr at 90 watts.
• The estimated duty cycles take into account the typical crest factor for 
each type of source material.
• Duty cycle of pink noise is 50%.
• Duty cycle of highly compressed rock ‘n’ roll midrange is 40%.
• Duty cycle of rock ‘n’ roll is 30%.
• Duty cycle of background music is 20%.
• Duty cycle of continuous speech is 10%.
• Duty cycle of infrequent, short duration paging is 1%.
Here are the equations used to calculate the data presented in Figures 
9.1, 9.2 and 9.3:
The quiescent power draw of 90 watts is a maximum value and includes 
power drawn by the fan. The following equation converts power draw in 
watts to current draw in amperes:
The power factor of 0.83 is needed to compensate for the difference in 
phase between the AC mains voltage and current. The following equa-
tion is used to calculate thermal dissipation:
The constant 0.35 is inefficiency (1.00–0.65) and the
factor 3.415 converts watts to btu/hr. Thermal dissipation in btu is 
divided by the constant 3.968 to get kcal. If you plan to measure output 
power under real-world conditions, the following equation may also be 
helpful:
9 AC Power Draw andThermal Dissipation
AC Mains Power
Draw (watts)
=
Total output power with all
channels driven (watts)
x Duty
Cycle
Amplifier Efficiency (.65)
+ Quiescent Power
Draw (watts)
Current Draw
(amperes)
=
AC Mains Power
Draw (watts)
x
AC Mains
Voltage
Power
Factor (.83)
Total output power with all
channels driven (watts)
Thermal
Dissipation
(btu/hr)
=
+
Quiescent Power
Draw (watts)
x Duty
Cycle
Amplifier Efficiency (.65)
(
)
x 3.415
.35
x
Total measured output power
from all channels (watts)
Thermal
Dissipation
(btu/hr)
=
+
Quiescent Power
Draw (watts)
.35
x
Amplifier Efficiency (.65)
(
)
x 3.415
