D'Amore Engineering AMM-1 User manual

Audio MultiMeter
AMM-1
Owner’s Manual

2
Table of Contents
The purpose of the AMM-1 3
What is included 3
About the design 4
Specifications 4
Power Requirements 5
How to Use 6
Measuring DC Voltage 7
Measuring DC Voltage Drops/Peaks (MIN/MAX) 7
Measuring AC Voltage and AC Current 8
Measuring VA and Power Factor 9
Measruing AC Frequency and Impedance 11
Real Time Power Mode 13
Dyno Mode 14
Limited warranty 15

3
The purpose of the AMM-1
The purpose of this tool is to enable the user to:
Measure True Amplifier Power output into any load
reactive or resistive
Measure Common DC voltages
Measure DC voltage drops during quick transients
on cable runs or battery / charging systems
Measure Impedance of speakers at any power or
frequency from 20Hz - 1kHz (box rise)
Measure Phase Difference between Voltage and
Current into reactive loads (Power Factor)
Find Tuning Frequency of subwoofer enclosures
Tune subwoofer enclosures for maximum power
transfer
Measure AC Volts (amplifier output)
Measure AC Amps (amplifier output)
Measure apparent power (VA)
Measure Frequency of a Sine Wave
.
What is included?
The AMM-1 tool
Protective silicon rubber boot
Harness
This manual
Pride of ownership

4
About the design
When you pick up the AMM-1 know that you are holding
a precision piece of equipment. If treated as such it
should provide you with many years of reliable service.
We have chosen a 9V battery as a power source for a
few reasons:
They are readily available
Isolating the AMM-1 from the electrical system under
test, this guarantees that it will only measure what it
is supposed to measure.
Specifications
Everyone hides these in the back of the book. We are
proud of our specs, so we are put them up front.
DC Voltmeter -100 Volts to +100 Volts
AC Voltmeter 0 - 150 VRMS
AC Ammeter 0 - 100 ARMS
AC Apparent Power 0 - 15,000 VA
Power Factor 50 - 100%
Frequency 10 - 20,000 Hz
AC Impedance 0 - 200 Ohms
True Power Dyno 0 - 15,000 Watts
Auto-shut off timer 8 - 10 minutes after ON button is
pressed
Battery self-test and display of condition when
AMM-1 is initialized

5
Power requirements
Pull the silicon rubber boot off of the unit by starting at
one end and pulling off towards the other end. On the
back side you will see the battery compartment. Slide
battery compartment cover off towards bottom end of
unit to reveal the 9V battery compartment. Insert a fresh
9V battery, make sure the wires are routed around the
battery. (If they are under or on top of the battery the
door may not close properly) You are ready to go. Do
not run this unit off of any power source other than a
9V battery. Wall adapters are electrically noisy, as
are vehicle electrical systems.

6
How to Use:
A note about using the AMM-1
The AMM-1 is a tool that can measure several different
key eletrical properties useful for understanding what is
happening within a system. As such, there are endless
uses for the tool and there would be no way to list them
all in this manual.
Some of the more common uses for this tool (as used in
audio) are listed here, with a short discription of how to
use the feature. Since the AMM-1 can measure many
electrical properties, the tool has uses outside of the
audio world. An example would be measuring the AC
power consumption of a household light bulb, or
microwave oven.
CAUTION: The voltages produced at the output of an
audio amplifier can be dangerous, just as household AC
voltages are. Use caution when attempting to measure!
Menu System
The AMM-1 uses a menu system to select the mode of
operation. The tool has 7 modes of operation. They are
accessable by pressing the MODE button. It is a circular
menu and is setup like such:
DC Voltage ---> DC Min/Max ---> AC Volts & Amps --->
VA & Power Factor ---> Frequency & Impedance --->
Real Time Power ---> Dyno Power -----> back to
beginning.
Once the AMM-1 is fully conected to the system under
test, the modes can be changed without changing the
setup.

7
Measuring DC Voltage
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Connect the probes to the banana jack inputs on the
AMM-1
4. Connect the probes across the DC Voltage source
Measuring DC Voltage Drop (Min/Max
Mode)
Example, on a cable:
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Press the MODE button once to get to the DC
MIN/MAX screen.
4. Connect the probes to the banana jack inputs on the
AMM-1
5. Connect the other end of the probes to cable of
interest. One probe at one end, the other probe at
the other. Once probes are connected press the
RESET button.
6. Activate equipment that draws current through the
cable of interest, the DC voltage drop will be
captured and displayed.
Note: The mode is also useful for measuring the voltage
drop on a battery during startup, voltage sag during
amplifier drawing high peak currents (with beat of music)
alternator's voltage regulator response and many other
uses.

8
Measuring AC Voltage and AC Current
The AMM-1 can perform True RMS reading of AC
Voltage via the probes and True RMS reading of AC
Current via the current transducer mounted within the
AMM-1. It can also make these reading simultaneously,
a necessity for any tool that measures true power and
power factor.
To measure an AC Voltage:
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Press the MODE button twice to get to the AC Volts
& AC Amps screen.
4. Connect the probes to the banana jack inputs.
5. Connect the other end of the probes AC Voltage of
interest.
6. Reading will be displayed on AMM-1
To measure an AC Current:
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Press the MODE button twice to get to the AC Volts
& AC Amps screen.
4. Shut off AC current source (amplifier for instance)
5. Disconnect one of the wires from the load of interest
(amplifier output for instance)
6. Run the wire through the hole on the center of the
AMM-1, and reconnect the wire to the load.
7. Power up AC current source (amplifier) and apply a
signal.
8. The AMM-1 will display the RMS Current reading on
the screen.

9
VA and Power Factor
What is VA, and what is Power Factor?
VA is the product of Volts RMS * Amps RMS. This is the
number that one would get if taking a conventional AC
Voltmeter and an AC Current clamp and then multiplying
the numbers together. Unlike DC where the voltage and
current are constantly flowing in one direction, AC
electricity has the voltage and current switching direction
back and forth in a circuit. Since Voltage and Current
and two different things, the changing of direction of the
voltage and current back and forth can happen at
different times. Clearly if the voltage and current
directions are opposite at any time there would be no
POWER happening and a True Power measurement
would be zero watts! Though multiplying Volts RMS and
Amps RMS in this case would give you a reading, the
Power Factor would be zero. The Power Factor is the
difference in time (or phase) between the Voltage and
Current expressed in a way that tells the user what
percentage of the VA is actual power (Watts).
This feature of being able to read the VA and Power
Factor is useful for several reasons. Here is one
example:
A SPL competitor plays a 50Hz tone, with a voltage
clamp and current clamp he measures 100VRMS and
50ARMS output from his amplifier to his subwoofers. He
might say the amplifier put out 100*50 = 5000 Watts.
That is incorrect. It would be 5000 VA. Now since the
subwoofers are not pure resistors the voltage and
current will likely be slightly out of phase. With the
AMM-1 the competitor repeats the test and finds the
output was 5000 VA with a power factor of 78%.

10
VA and Power Factor (cont.)
This means that the true power being delivered to the
subwoofers is 5000 X 78% = 3900 Watts. Now he can
use this tool to make changes to his box tuning, or even
something as small as rounding the corners inside the
box or the port itself can move the power factor around.
Typically the power factor will be the highest around the
port tuning frequency of a ported enclosure. In the case
illustrated here, the user could find the subwoofer's
tuning frequency by using Impedance Mode (page 11).
Then make adjustments to the tuning frequency by
playing with the port, placement, bracing, damping,
stuffing, etc. to try to increase the Power Factor at the
frequency used in competitions for most efficient transfer
of power from the amplifier to the subwoofers.
How to measure VA and Power Factor
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Press the MODE button three times (or hold down)
to get to the VA & Power Factor screen.
4. Shut off AC source (amplifier)
5. Disconnect one of the wires from the load of interest
(subwoofer)
6. Run the either the negative or positive speaker wire
through the hole on the center of the AMM-1, and
reconnect the wire to the load. (Doesn't matter
which one, but only use ONE of them)
7. Connect the voltage harness to the banana jacks
and then to the amplifier speaker outputs (+) and (-)
8. Power up AC current source (amplifier) and apply a
signal with a tone generator or tone CD.
9. The AMM-1 will display the VA and the Power Factor

11
Measuring AC Frequency and Impedance
The AMM-1 allows the user to measure impedance of a
speaker load at any frequency from 20Hz - 1kHz at any
power level (up to approx 15,000 Watts). This is very
powerful information to have when designing subwoofer
enclosures. For lots of information on impedance
sweeps and what they mean, please visit our website
www.DAmoreEngineering.com and visit our products
section. Here you will find our IM-SG tool. There is a
Free Download to the owner's manual for that tool there
that contains lots of useful info on this topic. Enjoy
How to measure AC Frequency
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Press the MODE button four times (or hold down) to
get to the AC Frequency and Impedance screen.
4. Connect the voltage harness to the banana jacks
and then to the amplifier speaker outputs (+) and (-)
or the AC source of interest. As long as the signal
input is over a few volts the frequency of the sine
wave will be displayed

12
Measuring AC Freq and Imp (cont.)
How to measure AC Impedance
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Press the MODE button four times (or hold down) to
get to the Frequency & Impedance screen.
4. Shut off AC source (amplifier)
5. Disconnect one of the wires from the load of interest
(subwoofer)
6. Run the either the negative or positive speaker wire
through the hole on the center of the AMM-1, and
reconnect the wire to the load. (Doesn't matter
which one, but only use ONE of them)
7. Connect the voltage harness to the banana jacks
and then to the amplifier speaker outputs (+) and (-)
8. Power up AC current source (amplifier) and apply a
signal with a tone generator or tone CD.
9. The AMM-1 will display the Frequency and
Impedance

13
Real Time Power Mode
In this mode the AMM-1 will show the True Power
compensated for both Power Factor and clipping of the
signal in a live mode.
How to measure True Power
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Press the MODE button five times (or hold down) to
get to the Real Time Power screen.
4. Shut off AC source (amplifier)
5. Disconnect one of the wires from the load of interest
(subwoofer)
6. Run the either the negative or positive speaker wire
through the hole on the center of the AMM-1, and
reconnect the wire to the load. (Doesn't matter
which one, but only use ONE of them)
7. Connect the voltage harness to the banana jacks
and then to the amplifier speaker outputs (+) and (-)
8. Power up AC current source (amplifier) and apply a
signal with a tone generator or tone CD.
9. The AMM-1 will display the True Power in Watts,
compensated for both clipping and Power Factor.

14
Dyno Mode
In this mode the AMM-1 will act like our AD-1 Amplifier
Dyno. The highest True Power reading during a "run"
will remain on the display. The power reading is
compensated for both Power Factor and clipping of the
signal.
How to use Dyno Mode
1. Power on the AMM-1 by pressing the ON button
2. Unit will power up, display internal battery condition,
and then land on the DC Voltage Screen.
3. Press the MODE button six times (or hold down) to
get to the Dyno Power screen.
4. Shut off AC source (amplifier)
5. Disconnect one of the wires from the load of interest
(subwoofer)
6. Run the either the negative or positive speaker wire
through the hole on the center of the AMM-1, and
reconnect the wire to the load. (Doesn't matter
which one, but only use ONE of them)
7. Connect the voltage harness to the banana jacks
and then to the amplifier speaker outputs (+) and (-)
8. Power up AC current source (amplifier) and apply a
signal with a tone generator or tone CD at a low -
moderate volume level
9. The AMM-1 will display the True Power in Watts,
compensated for both clipping and Power Factor.
10. Now grab your volume knob and roll it up until you
see the red Clipping LED illuminate.
11. The AMM-1 now displays the maximum clean True
Power in Watts (RMS).
12. To reset the reading press the CLEAR (On) button
for 1 second.

15
Limited Warranty
D’Amore Engineering warrants this product to be free
of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of
one year.
This warranty is not transferrable and applies only to
the original purchaser from an authorized D’Amore
Engineering dealer. Should service be necessary under
this warranty for any reason due to manufacturing defect
or malfunction, D’Amore Engineering will (at its
discretion), repair or replace the defective product with
new or remanufactured product at no charge. Damage
caused by the following is not covered under warranty:
accident, misuse, abuse, product modification or neglect,
unauthorized repair attempts, misrepresentations by the
seller. This warranty does not cover incidental or
consequential damages. Cosmetic damage due to
accident or normal wear and tear is not covered under
warranty. Warranty is void if the product’s serial
number has been removed or defaced.
Any applicable implied warranties are limited in
duration to the period of one year beginning with the
date of the original purchase. No warranties shall apply
to this product thereafter. Some states do not allow
limitations on implied warranties; therefore these
exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives
you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state.
If you need service on your D’Amore Engineering
product:
All warranty returns should be sent to D’Amore
Engineering accompanied by proof of purchase (a copy
of the original sales receipt). Warranty expiration on
products returned without proof of purchase will be
determined from the manufacturing date code. Non-
defective items received will be returned COD. Customer
is responsible for shipping charges and insurance in
sending the product to D’Amore Engineering. Shipping
damage on returns is not covered under warranty.

16
To obtain service worldwide please e-mail
D’Amore Engineering at
[e-mail]
D’Amore Engineering
AMM-1 Owner’s Manual Rev. 1
2014
Printed in
Tempe, Arizona