RCA testing

[lakaiguy 0]

can you test voltage of RCAs with a DMM?

[johnecon2001 82]

RCA's have no voltage.

If they're hooked up to a line driver or head unit, then they carry voltage.

And yes, you can.

[lakaiguy 0]

RCA's have no voltage.

If they're hooked up to a line driver or head unit, then they carry voltage.

And yes, you can.

ok well I was just wondering if there was a way to test them other than just plugging them in

How would you test them using a DMM?

[johnecon2001 82]

Are you asking how to verify that they're still good? As in signal flow? My bad, yes you can. There should be a continuity setting on your DMM. One lead goes to one end of the RCA, the other lead to the other end. If it beeps at you (most of them beep), you have signal.

[fbi90909 0]

i think he means measuring the voltage running through them. like to see if his head unit if putting out a continuous 4v while playing music or if it's fluctuating(4v is an example).

[Guest zedman]

interesting. Z

[johnecon2001 82]

You'll only see peak voltage if the volume is most of the way up on most decks.

I'd still love for the OP to clarify.

[lakaiguy 0]

You'll only see peak voltage if the volume is most of the way up on most decks.

I'd still love for the OP to clarify.

I was actually referring to what the other guy was saying about testing the HU voltage.

TIA

[johnecon2001 82]

jam one probe in the middle of the RCA, put one probe on the outer shell. Play 0dB test tones through the head unit.

[sqguy 0]

I've done that with an old HU, low voltage. Just had to max it out to see the voltage.