PowerAcoustik PA2-120 User manual

Owner's manual

Amplifier providehigh-performancesound reinforcementfor youmobileaudioequipment.
it'sversatilityenables compatibilitywith optionalEqualizers,FrequencyDividingNetwork
Crossovers, andotheraudioprocessors ina customizedsystem.The Multi-Modebridging
capabilitiesallowflexibility inhostingseveraldifferentspeakerconfigurations.
To achieveoptimum performance, itis highly recommendedthatyoureadthis Owners
-'
Manualdeforebeginninginstallation.
2 OHM STABLE OPERATION FOR MAXIMUMEFFICIENCY
STATE-OF-THE-ART HEAT SINK FOR SUFFICIENT POWER DlSSiPATlON
GOLD PLATED LOW LEVEL INPUTS AND SCREW TERMINAL
CONNECTIONS FOR POWER, GROUND AND SENSING
FLOATINGGROUND INPUTS
INPUT SENSlTiVllY CONTROL FOR PERFECT MATCH WlTH CAR STEREO
REMOTE TURN-ONWlTH LED INDICATOR
VARIABLE LINE LEVEL INPUT ADJUSTMENT
SOFT TURN-ON CIRCUIT
CIRCUIT OVERLOAD PROTECTION
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WARNING
Highpoweredaudiosystems ina vehiclearecapable of generating"Live Concert"high
levelsof sound pressure.Continuedexposure to excessively highvolumesoundlevels may
causehearingloss or damage.Also, operationof a motervehiclewhiie listeningto audio
equipmentathighvolume levelsmayimpairyour ability to hear externalsoundssuch as;
horns, warningsignals,or emergency vehlcles.thus constitutingto a potentialtraffic hazard.
Intheinterestof safety,ConsumerElectronicsrecommendslistening
at lowervolumelevels
whiie driving.

Beforebeginningthe installation, consider the following:
a.If youplanto expandyour system byaddingother components sometime inthefuture.
ensure adequatespaceis left.andcoolingrequirementsaremet.
b.Shouldyou use highor low inputs?
Your Amplifier hasbeendesignedto accept either High-Level(speaker outputsfrom your
-
radio)or Low-Level(Pre-Ampoutputsfrom your radio) signalsource.
If your radio/sourceis equippedwith Pre-Ampoutputs, itis possibleto utilizethem to drive
theAmplifier andconnecting(Amplifier) tothe
2 rearspeakers.Then, use the built-in
powerof your radioto drivethe2front speakers.
NOTE:
DISTORTION LEVEL IS CONSIDERABLY LOWER FROM PRE-AMP (LOW LEVEL) OUTPUTS, THAN SPEAKER
(HIGH LEVEL) OUTPUTS.
C.Are your componentsmatched?The peak power ratingof your speakersmust beequal
or greater thantheAmplifier's. They also must be2-8 Ohms llmpedance(Thisinformation
as normallyprintedonthespeaker magnet).
d.Consider boththe lengthof your leads,androutingwhendeterminingthe mountlng
location.Pre-AmpinputJacks requira lengthof highqualityshieldedmaleto maleRCA
patchcord.
The mountingpositionof your Amplifierwill havea greateffecton its ability todissipatethe
heatgeneratedduringnormaloperation.Ithas ample heatsink for heatdlssipation,and
also designedwith a thermalshut-down (for heatprotection)circuit, makingair to be
directedover the coolingfins will improveheatdissipationdramatically.DO NOT enclose
theamplifierin a smaii boxof coveritso that air cannotflow aroundfins.
Temperaturesin cartrunks havebeenmeasuredas highas 175'F(80'c) inthesummer time.
since thethermalshut-downpointfor theAmpiifier is 185'F(85'c) itis easy tosee that itmust
bemountedfor maximumcoolingcapability.To achievemaximumadvantage of
convectionais flow inanenclosedtrunk, mounttheamplifier in a verticalposition, ona
verticalsurface.
Coolingrequirementsareconsiderablyrelaxedwhen mountingInsidethe passenger
compartmentsince the driverwill notoften allowtemperaturesto reacha criticalpoint.
Floor mountingunderthe seat is usuallysatisfactory as longas there is atleast
1 inch(2cm)
abovetheAmplifier's fins for ventilation.
'
a.Selecta suitable locationthat is convenientfor mounting,is accessible for wiring, and
.4
hasample roomfor air circulationandcooling.
b.Use the amplifier as a templateto mark the mountingholes. RemovetheAmplifier and
drill 4 holes,use extremecaution,inspectunderneathsurface beforedrilling.
c.Securethe Amplifier usingthescrews provided.

A. CONNECTING THE POWER (Fig.1)
CAUTION:
AS A PRECAUTION.IT IS ADVISABLE TO DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE'S BATERY BEFORE MAKING CONNECTION
TO THE +I2 VOLTS SUPPLY WIRING.
Y
418 GAUGEOhickerif planningfor additionalAmplifiers)wire is recommendedboththe
powerandgroundwires. 12 Gauge,for the remoteture-onwire. Bothtypes are
availableatmost MobileAudio Dealersor InstallationShops.
(I)GROUND: To Vehicle Chassis
To avoidunwantedignitionnoise causedbyground loops, itis essentialthatthe
Amplifier begroundedtoa clean, bare,metalsurfaceof thevehicles chassis.
NOTE:
GROUND WIRE SHOULD NOT BE EXTENDED MORE THAN 3 FT.(l METER).
(2) +12Volt(Fused)ConstantPower:To Battery (+)
Duetothepower requirementsof theAmplifier,this connectionshould bemade
directlytothepositive
(+) terminal of battery.For safety measure.installanin-lineFuse
Holder(not included)as close to thebatterypositive
(+) terminalas possiblewith an
ampererating;nottoexceedtotalvalueof fuses inAmp.
(3) RemoteTurn-OneInput : To PowerAntennaoutputof Car Stereo
This Amplifier is turned "0N"remotelywhen thevehicle'sstereo is turned 'ON"
NOTE:
IF YOUR RADIO DOES NOT HAVE +I2 VOLT OUTPUT LEAD WHEN ME RADIO IS TURNED ON.
THE 'REM' TERMINAL ON THE AMPLIFIER CAN BE CONNECTED TO VEHICLE'S ACCESSORY CIRCUIT THAT IS LIVE
WHEN THE KEY IS 'ON-.

Fig 1

B. LOW LEVEL INPUT
Use a pairof shieldedstereo audiocableswith RCA typejacks. Mosttrunk-mount
amplifier installationsrequire20-footRCA cables.Most under-seatandpickuptruck
installationsuse llfootcables.
Connectthe leftchannelRCA outputfrom your receiveror CD player tothe RCA
inputonthe amplifier labeled
L. Connectthe rightchannelRCA outputfrom your
receiveror CD playertothe RCA inputon the amplifier labeled
R.
'1
C.BASS BOOST
By usingthe bass boostfunctionthedeepestbass notes at45Hz are emphasized.
D. CONNECTINGHlGH LEVEL INPUTS (Fig.2)
NOTE:
DONOT CONNECTTHESE HlGHLNELINPUTWIRES
IF YOU ARE USING THE LOW LNELINPUT RCAJACKS.
CAUTION
NOTE THAT ONLY PoslnvE(+)WIRES ARE USED. DO NOT CONNECT SPEAKER NEGATIVES.
120
SIGNM OOUND
PDWER INPUT
LCHSP-WEN UCK
2
PA4-240
SIGWAL GROUND
b
Fig 2
-6-

E. CONNECTING LOW LEVEL INPUTS (RCA Jacks)
NOTE:
DO NOT USE INCONJUNCTIONWlTH HIGH LEVEL INPUT WIRES.
Wire routingis CRITICAL for NOISE FREE PERFORMANCE. Obselvethefollowing:
1. Always use highquality RCA typeshieldedcables.
-
2. Always use the shortest lengthpossible. If the cable is too long,makean "S" type
loop(nota coiledloop) inthe centerof the cable totakeupany excess.
3. Nevercuttheshielded cable andre-spliceit.
4. Never routeany Amplifier inputcables near or paralleltospeaker outputs.high
energyignitionwires, or nearcomputercontrolledignitioncircuit unitsComputer
units may befound behindor underthe dash panelin latemodelcars).
Thls METER LAMP will illuminatewhen theamplifier is turned "ON".If Itfalls to illuminate,
checkthe power connectionsto the Amplifier andfuses.
PROTECTIONCIRCUIT
ShouldtheAmplifier be"SHORT CIRCUITED" overloadedor overheated.the protect
circuitwill "SHUT-DOWN"theAmplifier.
CAUTION
THIS AMPUFIER IS DESIGNED TO OPERATE WlTH A MINIMUMLOADIMPEDANCEOF 2 OHMS INSTEREO,
OR
4 OHMS IN MONO)BRIDGED, MULTI-MODE)CONFIGURATION.
SUBJECTINGTO IMPEDANCE'S LOWER THAN RECOMMENDED,MAYCONSTITUTE TO POTENTIAL DAMAGETO THE
MOSFET POWER SUPPLY. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONSON SECTION. 'WIRING CONNECTIONS' FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION.

Inorder to achievemaximumsignal-to-noiseperformance,this controladjusts the signal
levelfrom your Car Stereo/Source,to matchtheAmplifier'ssensitivity.Itis NOT a volume
control.
To adjust, proceedas follows:
a.Set INPUT LEVEL Control atmid-point.
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b. Listenfor audibledistortionas you increasetheCar Stereo VOLUME control.If none
Is heard,turnthe adjustmentlevelcontroltowardto "MAX" instages, untiltheonset of
audibledistortionis heard, thendecreaseto "MIN" levelprior tothe immediate
pointof audibledistortion.
c.If distortlonis immediatelyheard,turn controlto "MIN" untilthesound is clear.
NOTE:
NOT PERFORMING ABOVE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE AND/OR SIMPLY SEmNGTHIS CONTROL AT OR NEAR
'MAX' POSITION. MAY INDUCE ELECTRICALAUDIO NOISE INTO ME SYSTEM.
Fig 3
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I SYMPTOMS I CHECK POINTS 1 CURE
NO SOUND
AMP NOT
SWITCHING
IN ONE
CHANNEL
TURNING OFF
MEDIUMIHIGH
VOLUME
Inthe power
METER LAMP
illuminated?
Is the Diagnosic
LED illuminated?
No powerto power wire
No powerto remote
wire with receiveron
Fuse broken
CheckSpeaker Leads
CheckAudio Leads
Checkspeaker load
impedance
1 Checkfuses inamplifier.
Be sure Turn-onleadis connected
Checksignalleads.Check gain
control.
CheckTunerJDeckvolume level.
Cleancontactsonfuse holders.
Checkfor speakershort or
amplifieroverheating.
Repairpowerwire or connections.
Checkconnectionsto radio.
Check fuse
Inspectfor short circuitor an
openconnection.
ReverseLeftand Right RCA inputs
I to determine if itis occurring
beforethe amp.
Be sure proper speaker load
impedancerecommendations
1 areobserved.
(If youuse anohmmeterto check
speakerresistance,please
rememberthat DC resistanceand
AC impedancemay notbethe
same.)
PROTECTION
LAMP ON Temperatureshutdown
Speakerwires short circuit
Turn radiodown
Separatespeaker wires andinsulate

investigatethelayoutof youautomobilethoroughly beforedrillingor cuttingany holes.
Take carewhenyou work near the thanks, lines, or hydrauliclines,andelectricalwiring.
Don't mountthis system so thatthewire connectionsate unprotectedaresubject to
pinchingor damagefrom nearbyobjects.
-
The
12V DC powerwire mustbefused at thebatterypositiveterminalconnection.
Beforemakingor breakingpowerconnectionsatthis system powerterminals.disconnect
-
the +12 V wire atthebatteryend.
Confirmyour radio/cassetteplayerand/or other equip
is turnedoff while connectingthe
inputjacks andspeaker terminals.
if you needto replacethepowerfuse, replaceitonly with a fuse identicaltothat
suppliedwiththesystem. Using a fuse of differenttypeor ratingmayresult indamageto
this system which isn't coveredbythewarranty.

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FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.