Yea, sound systems get real strange real fast! "Program,
RMS, and Peak" take on some crazy meanings depending on what area you are talking about. With amplifiers, we hear
RMS and Peak. This is a simple mathematical equation as a sign waveform has both characteristics at all times. Yet, listen to a sales person explain it and you will
shutter! Move on to loud speakers and they take on a whole new meaning: Max
RMS is the highest constant drive wattage before you risk melting the
voice coil form. "Peak" is the highest drive
level before the
speaker mechanically
flies apart. When talking about sound
power levels we have two more incarnations of "Program" and "Peak." In this case, program is your continuous drive
level and peak is the
headroom level you need to handle transits (usually five times program.) It is probably this last incarnation that is most useful to the electrician. Short of those that like to use their clip lights as pilot lights, the expected program draw of an
amplifier will be 1/5 of it's rated output. (A 1kw
power amp will probably draw at 200 watts.) Even allowing a 2.5
safety factor, the max draw will be about 500 watts. In summary, a 10kw sound
system will draw less than 5kw when cranked. (See exception for using pilot clip lights) This is quite different from the lighting world where 10k means you are using 10k of
power.