indoor-outdoor speaker setup on bus

[jenny]

Hi! I am looking to set up a simple PA system on a double-decker bus. I need 3 indoor/outdoor speakers upstairs and 1 downstairs. My power is limited to one of those portable batteries (It is a 120V AC/12V DC power pack with a built-in 1200W inverter).

The PA will be used primarily for amplifying a guide's voice. I have had limited success using this power source to run a 400W power amp to 3 cheap 50W indoor/outdoor speakers but these components were picked arbritrarily with in complete ignorance of what the best power combination would be.

What speaker wattage (using 4 equal speakers) and power amp wattage would be the best combination given the battery I am using?

I have only been able to find power amps with two 1/4" outputs in the $300-$400 range and needed to use splitters to get more outputs from these two. The shakiness of the bus often breaks these splitters. I also had to cut the ends off fairly long and expensive cables to attach them to the speakers. Do any power amps in this price range have 4 speaker-wire-type outputs?

Thanks and please forgive my inexperience.

[tINY]

Is there some reason not to use the PA amp in a CB radio?

For speakers, if you don't want horns, boat stereo speakers may be a good choice.




-tINY