How Many Amps Does A Car Stereo Draw?: You Should Know

Last Updated on August 2, 2023 by John Robinson

A car stereo draws a small number of amps which is usually around 2 to 3 amps though some can go up to 5 or 6. This doesn’t matter so much because most cars have a large enough battery to handle this amount of amps.

However, there are some cars that only have smaller batteries and they will not be able to handle the amps of a stereo. Thus if you do see this issue, try getting an after-market unit that draws more amps.

How Many Amps Does A Car Stereo Draw When Off?

Most car stereos will draw around 0.1 amps when the unit is turned off though I have seen some that draw as much as .5 amps though this isn’t very common. The majority will draw between 0.1 and .5 amps when the stereo is turned off.

How Many Amps Does A Car Audio Amplifier Draw?

Most car audio amplifiers draw between 10 and 20 amps. It’s important to make sure that your vehicle’s electrical system can handle the load before installing an amplifier. Many vehicles come with a fuse box that is rated for more amperage than the typical car audio amplifier, but it’s always a good idea to check with a qualified installer to be sure.

How Many Amps Does a 200 Watt Car Stereo Draw?

A 200-watt stereo would likely draw between 12 and 16 amps.

It’s important to remember that the rating on a car stereo is not just the maximum amount of power it can put out, but also the maximum amount of power it can draw from the outlet. So if you have a stereo that’s rated at 16 amps, and you only have an outlet that’s rated at 10 amps, your stereo will only be able to put out 10 watts.

1000 Watt Amplifier

A 1000 watt amplifier will typically draw around 10 amps of current.

There are a lot of factors that can affect how much current an amplifier draws, including the type of amplifier, the impedance of the load, and the AC voltage supply. But in general, a 1000 watt amp will draw around 10 amps.

Factors that Influence

The main factor in how many amps a car stereo draws is how loud the speakers are. If you turn up the volume and bass (and perhaps other settings) it will draw more amps. The wattage of the speakers does not matter as much for this, but turning up the bass will increase the amps draw no matter what.

And if you have a subwoofer, this will draw the most amps because it needs to push a lot of air and thus requires a powerful amplifier to power the subwoofers.

Battery size also matters as well because if you have a smaller battery, it will not be able to handle the amps of a subwoofer or large speakers.

What Can Happen If You Exceed The Recommended Number Of Amps

Generally, you will not see any problems if you do exceed the number of amps for your car stereo though it can make your battery drain faster. This isn’t really an issue unless you have a small battery or if you plan to use your car stereo for long periods of time. The high current draw can also damage your car stereo if it is not built to handle such a high current.

If you have a smaller battery, I suggest that you don’t exceed the recommended amperage for your car stereo. If you do, you will risk draining your battery and that is very frustrating.

Tips For Reducing The Number Of Amps

If you are in control of your stereo settings, try turning down the bass or other settings to reduce the amps draw. Some car stereos have a low power setting that may conserve battery while listening to music. If you have a larger battery, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue if you exceed the recommended amperage.

What Is The Best Way To Measure How Many Amps A Car Stereo Draws?

You can measure the amps draw by measuring how long your battery lasts or you can use a multimeter to measure the current draw. Be careful when doing this because you do not want to damage your car stereo. Most high-end car stereos can handle a lot of amperages and it may be impossible to damage the unit.