I have a small power supply. Only 15 amps or so but more than enough for function check of items to make sure nothing is doa.

 

Tricky to do, just because it turns on does not mean it will work properly. Most will fall into warranty so I just make sure you plan your build and only order what you need. Speakers, head units, amplifiers and DSP are the big ticket items but the little ones add up, so plan well. Fuses, distribution blocks, wire, RCA, fans, etc...

 

What you could do is get a small battery charger (if you don’t already have one) and a battery (I bought a reconditioned deep cycle for $35 at a local battery store) and then hook everything up on the bench. You can use a laptop or phone with an RCA to mini for source etc. Then you have it all isolated from your vehicle so you will know if it’s a connection issue or equipment issue when you actually do the install. And you don’t have to take your car apart to do the install until you’re ready to get it all done 😀

 

I buy lots of used gear so I got the test down to 5 mins lol. Optima (spill proof) with studs instead of posts. 2 pre made 4ga wires with ring terminals on one end, tinned on the other. Spare speaker and a short section of speaker wire with conectors on it. 3.5mm to dual rca cord to hook my phone to amp. Can use this anywhere from work bench to parking lot. I also have a pdx v9 that hasn't been installed yet that I use when I need to test speakers or subs.

Well I have a 12VDC AGM deep cycle battery that should work then.

What kind of things should I look for when doing testing, besides just everything turning on?

 

^This

The other day I was buying some pdx amps off someone and he tested them right there for me on a work bench with a battery, two cheap speakers, the amps, and he used a deck tuned to the radio. It was genius and simple and took like 3-4 minutes to hook each amp up.

I would do what Diamond said and use a laptop or a phone with 3.5 to rca as the source though. Think of how many troubleshooting steps you could save by having that setup.

 

I buy lots of used gear so I got the test down to 5 mins lol. Optima (spill proof) with studs instead of posts. 2 pre made 4ga wires with ring terminals on one end, tinned on the other. Spare speaker and a short section of speaker wire with conectors on it. 3.5mm to dual rca cord to hook my phone to amp. Can use this anywhere from work bench to parking lot. I also have a pdx v9 that hasn't been installed yet that I use when I need to test speakers or subs.

 

With new stuff just run it through all its functions basically. If a speaker plays to a medium to loud volume its good same with a sub. Run a deck through all its different settings stereo/aux whatever amps i make sure to test each channel. Used gear i look over a lot closer, i check for cosmetic signs of abuse. arcing around power and speaker connections. Put an ohm meter on the voice coil. move it through its cone travel by hand listening for coil rub stuff like that.

 

Batteries are portable and if you already have a spare laying around probably the cheapest. They don't have a switch but you can add one

If you end up doing a lot of 12V stuff, checking relays, lighting, etc. I'd recommend a power supply:

Universal Compact Bench Power Supply - 30 Amp Regulated Home Lab Benchtop AC-to-DC Converter w/ 13.8 Volt DC 115/230V AC Switchable, Screw Type Terminals, Cooling Fan - Pyle PSV300 : Electronics

Buy Universal Compact Bench Power Supply - 30 Amp Regulated Home Lab Benchtop AC-to-DC Converter w/ 13.8 Volt DC 115/230V AC Switchable, Screw Type Terminals, Cooling Fan - Pyle PSV300: PDUs - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com