Niles WVC100K Original operating instructions

•
-
Outdoor High-Power Stereo Volume Control

TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Introduction
1
Features
and
Benefits
Installation
Considerations
3
Installation
6
Operation
9
Specifications
10
-NILES
..
ERPROOF
STEREO
VOLUME
CONTROLS
INTRODUCTION
The WVC1
OOK
is
a weatherproof stereo impedance-magnifying volume control that connects
between the speaker-level output of
an
amplifier, speaker selector, or a Niles VCSHUB8
distribution hub and your
speakers.
The WVC1
OOK
is
a wall-mounted volume control designed specifically for environmental
use.
It
adjusts the volume
of
remotely located
speakers
to which they
are
connected by attenuating
the amplifier signal. To
assure
minimal dissipation
of
internal power with virtually no power
wasted
as
heat,
Niles volume controls
use
autoformers instead of
L-pads
as
the volume-
control!i
ng
element.
The WVC1
OOK
is
an
impedance-magnifying (IM) volume control. Unlike other brands, it
has
additional autoformer windings that magnify the impedance of connected
speakers,
while
allowing all
12
steps
to adjust the volume of the sound. Switches on the
PC
board select
these
windings.
With the volume control providing impedance protection for your amplifier, you can create
systems
with no additional impedance-matching devices between the volume control and the
amplifier.
In
a typical application of IM controls, a
system
has
eight pairs
of
8-ohm
speakers
throughout
the house and in outdoor locations. Connect each pair
of
speakers
to a WVC1
OOK
volume
control with
its
switch in the 8x position, eliminating the need for
an
external impedance-
matching device to protect the amplifier.
Even
when playing all eight speaker pairs at once, the
amplifier runs
at
normal operating temperatures.

WEATHERPROOF STEREO VOLUME CONTROLS
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
The weatherproof WVC1 OOK offer a number of improvements
over other volume controls:
• Designed for environmental wall-mount installation.
• A rubber gasket fits behind the faceplate during installation to
seal out moisture.
• An impedance-magnifying switch on the front
of the volume
control
sets the impedance of connected speakers. You can
magnify the speakers' impedance by a factor of two, four, or
eight.
• Unlike other impedance-matching volume-control products,
the Niles
IM volume control maintains a 12-position
adjustment regardless
of how much impedance
magnification you
use, with total attenuation >48dB.
• Pop-free switching between all
steps.
• 100-percent tested, electronically and acoustically, for
frequency response, distortion, and power handling.
• Mounting depth
of only 2-9/16
11
• Fits into standard 18-cubic-
inch one-gang junction boxes.
• Standard faceplate and knob included in white, light almond,
bone and black.
• Isolated left- and right-channel grounds ensure
safety with
any amplifier.
• May
be used with 4-, 6-, or 8-ohm speaker systems.
• Ideal for home and commercial sound installations.
• UL-rated to comply with all local building codes.
• Installation requires only a screwdriver and wire stripper.
• Power handling: 1DOW/channel
RMS.
• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz ±1.5dB.
•
Ten Year parts and labor limited warranty.
TECH TIP
Some speakers have selectable impedance.
Before you proceed, please confirm that any
selectable-impedance speakers
in your system
are properly set for the system you are installing.

•
WEATHERPROOF STEREO VOLUME CONTROLS
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS
Calculating the Impedance Magnification Setting
Use the following instructions and the accompanying charts to
select the correct switch setting for the number and type of
speakers in your system.
CAUTION! Every speaker pair
in the system must be connected
to an impedance-magnifying
volume control and set
to the
same magnification.
1. Count the number of pairs
of 4-ohm speakers and the
number
of pairs of 8-ohm
speakers you are connecting.
Count pairs of 6-ohm speakers
as 4-ohm pairs.
2. Determine whether the amplifier should see a 4-ohm load or
an 8-ohm load. You should find this information in the
owner's manual
of the amplifier.
3. Read the correct switch position from the charts on page 7.
See Figure 3 if your amplifier can drive a 4-ohm load. See
Figure 4 if your amplifier must have an 8-ohm speaker load.
4. Set the switches on all of the controls to the same position
(1 x, 2x, 4x, or 8x).
limitations in Volume with High Magnification Settings
Using an 8x setting limits the power to each speaker pair to
one-eighth
of the amplifier's output.
In a typical application of IM volume controls, a system has
eight pairs of 8-ohm speakers throughout the house. Each pair
of speakers is connected to an IM volume control with its
switches set for 8x.
With eight pairs of
speakers, one-eighth of the
amplifier's power
is
available to any pair.
Therefore,
an ampIifier
rated at 100W per channel
RMS into 8 ohms will
deliver up to 12.5W to
each
of the eight pairs-
whether you play all eight
pairs or just one pair. This
translates into a drop in the
maximum volume
capability
of about 9dB at
the 8x setting.
12AWG
.~~
--·
I
~
~
--·
TECH TIP
Wire size is expressed by its
AWG (American Wire Gauge)
number. The lower the AWG
number, the larger the wire.
Thus, 12 AWG wire is physically
larger than 14 AWG.

WEATHERPROOF
STEREO
VOLUME
CONTROLS
Using
Speaker
Selectors
with
IM
Volume
Controls
Although IM controls provide volume and on/off
at
the volume-
control location, they do not give you central control of
speakers playing throughout the house. Speaker-selection
systems
give you central control, but some speaker selectors
have non-defeatable impedance-protection circuits.
Combining IM controls with such a selector
will
reduce your
maximum volume substantially. To solve this problem, specify
a speaker selector with a defeatable protection circuit (Niles
models
HPS-4,
HPS-6,
SS-4,
or
SS-6).
Then keep the protection
circuit off
at
all times.
Junction
Boxes
The
mounting
depth
of
the WVC1
OOK
is
2-9/16
11
•
For
installation,
use
a standard 18-cubic-inch (or larger) junction
box. Suitable junction boxes
are
available from your Niles
dealer or local electrical-supply company.
Type
of
Speaker
Wire
We
recommend 16-gauge stranded copper speaker wire for
most connections.
Don't
use
speaker wire larger than
16
gauge,
because larger wire may not fit into the connectors. Never
use
solid-core, aluminum, or Romex wire with
an
IM
volume
control.
For
speaker-wire
runs
within walls, most U.S.
states
and municipalities require a special type of speaker wire with
a specific
CL
fire rating,
such
as
CL-2
or CL-3. Consult your
Niles dealer, building contractor, or local building-inspection
department if you aren't
sure
what kind
of
wire
is
best for your
application.
Mounting
Location
Convenient mounting locations include:
•
On
a porch or patio wall.
• Near doorways.
• Close to a telephone.
• Near other wall-mounted controls.
Some
states
or municipalities allow installation
of
devices
such
as
the WVC100K in the
same
junction box
as
110V devices,
with a low-voltage partition between the devices.
We
do not
recommend this, because speaker wires can act
as
an
antenna
for electrical noise. Locating speaker wires too close to a light
switch or dimmer may cause the
speakers
to emit a popping or
buzzing sound. If you must locate the IM volume control near
electrical devices, install it in a separate metal junction box,
ground the box to the electrical-system ground, and route the
speaker wires several feet away from the electrical wiring.
II

WEATHERPROOF
STEREO
VOLUME
CONTROLS
PREPARING
FOR
INSTALLATION
Before you install the WVC1
OOK
into
an
existing wall, consider
the possibility
of
hidden obstructions inside the wall, such
as
wood and metal
studs;
electrical, telephone, or other wiring;
plumbing; and conduit.
1.
Install the junction box in the usual manner.
2.
Run
all necessary wiring to the volume control. Label the
wires for future reference
(Figures
1
).
INSTALLATION
1.
Locate the connector plugs
(and
remove them if they
are
plugged in).
2.
Strip
114
11
of
insulation from the end
of
each wire. Tightly
twist the end
of
each wire until no frayed
ends
remain.
3.
Use
a small flathead screwdriver or your thumbnail to
raise
the locking
tabs,
exposing the holes on the removable
connector plug.
4.
Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the removable
connector plug, and
snap
the locking tab down.
NOTE:
Maintain proper phasing. Connect the positive terminals
on the volume control to the positive terminals on the amplifier
and
speakers,
and
connect the negative terminals on the
volume control to the negative terminals on the amplifier and
speakers.
To
help you avoid
improper phasing, the connector
plug
is
keyed. Insert the smooth
side
of
the connector plug into
the smooth side
of
the socket.
Don't
force
the scalloped side
of
the connector plug into the
smooth side
of
the socket. See
Figure
5.
5.
Set
the Impedance
Magnification Switch
(See
Figure
6)
as
determined by the
IM charts
(Figures
3 and
4).
6.
Plug the connectors into the
volume control
as
shown in
Figure
5.
The inputs
of
the IM
volume
control are the
connector pins labeled
AMPLIFIER. The outputs
are
the
connector ptns labeled
SPEAKERS.
Receiver
Figure 1
Wiring Diagram
NOTE:
If you reverse these connections, the volume control
won't function properly.

WEATHERPROOF
STEREO
VOLUME
CONTROLS
7.
Secure the volume control to the junction box. Insert the
1-1/4
11
device screws into the oblong screw holes on the top
and bottom
of
the volume control. The oblong shape
of
the
screw holes helps you place the volume control in a vertical
position. Align the screws with the threaded holes in the
junction
box. Tighten the screws using a Phillips
screwdriver.
DO
NOT
OVERTIGHTEN. If
necessary,
loosen
these screws several turns
so
the volume control fits flush
with the faceplate.
8.
Set
the rubber gasket inside the faceplate and
be
sure
it
is
seated
properly.
9.
Use
the shorter plate screws to
fasten
the gasketed faceplate
to the volume control.
DON'T
OVERTIGHTEN
THE
PLATE
SCREWS,
WHICH
COULD
DAMAGE
THE
FACEPLATE.
Align all the screws in the
same
direction for a clean,
finished look.
OPERATION
1.
Make
sure
the amplifier or receiver power
is
OFF
and
set
the
volume to minimum.
2.
Set
the volume on the volume control to maximum (fully
clockwise).
3.
If you
are
using a Niles speaker-selection
system,
locate the
ON/OFF button that corresponds to the speaker pair you
wish to play.
Set
it to the
ON
position. Make
sure
the
defeatable protection circuit
is
not enabled.
See
Using
Speaker Selectors with
IM
Volume Controls, on
page
4.
4. Turn
ON
the ampIifier or receiver and select a source, such
as
the tuner or
DVD
player.
5.
Slowly turn up the amplifier or receiver volume and
set
it to
a comfortable -
not
maximum -listening level.
Don't
overdrive or
11
clip'' your amplifier. If the sound becomes
muddy or distorted, you have reached the limit
of
your
amplifier's
volume
capability.
Reduce the volume
at
once to
avoid damaging your
speakers.
6.
Use the volume control to adjust
the volume
of
the speakers to the
desired listening level. If all the
speaker pairs in your
system
are
equipped
with
Niles
volume
controls, you can
set
the amplifier
or receiver volume at one position
and
use
the Niles controls exclusively.
Figure
2
Loosening the Screws
for a Flush Fit
7.
To turn offthe speakers, turn the knob on the volume control
fully counter-clockwise, or
press
the ON/OFF button on your
speaker selector.
II

40HM
Speaker
Pairs
W
EATHERPROOF
S
TEREO
V
OLUME
CONTROLS
AMPLIFIER'S MINIMUM SPEAKER LOAD IS 4 OHMS
8 OHM Speaker Pairs
--
Figure
3
Figure
5
AMPLIFIER'S
MINIMUM
SPEAKER LOAD IS 8 OHMS
8 OHM Speaker Pairs
40HM
Speaker
Pairs
Figure
4
Figure
6

WEATHERPROOF STEREO VOLUME CONTROLS
SPECIFICATIONS
Audio Power Handling
1OOW/channel
RMS
200W/channel peak music power
Mounting
In-wall, fits into most 18-cubic-inch single-gang junction
boxes
at least 2-3/4
11
deep
Wiring Requirements
16-18 gauge,
two individual runs of two-conductor speaker
wire, or one run of four-conductor speaker wire.
Unit Dimensions
1-5/8
11
wide x 2-5/8
11
high
Faceplate Dimensions
Faceplate: 2-3/4
11
wide x 4-1/2
11
high
Depth Behind Faceplate
2-9/16
11
TECH TIP
When using a receiver, set all of your IM volume
controls at maximum volume. Then turn up the
master volume
on the receiver until you reach the
maximum listening level.
Finally, turn down the
volume controls.
CONTENTS
WVC100K
• WVC1 00 volume control
• Standard wallplate (White, Light Almond, Bone, Black)
• Knob (White, Light Almond, Bone, Black)
• Device mounting screws
X2
• Faceplate screws X2
• Removable speaker connector X2
• Gasket
I

II
WEATHERPROOF
STEREO
VOLUME
CONTROLS
WVC1
OOK
INSTALLATION
ASSEMBLY
-
Figure
7
•
•
Q
•
(a)
Knob
(b) Faceplate
(c) Gasket
(d)
Volume Control