Trunk Mount Amplifier (120-1967) Installation Faxback Doc. # 7558 Before you install the amplifier, carefully read all instructions. If you are unsure about any part of the installation process, we recommend that you have a professional install your amplifier. Note the following before you begin installing the amplifier: * Be sure your vehicle has a 12-volt DC, negative-ground electrical sys- tem. If it does not, you cannot use this amplifier. * Before you mount the amplifier, temporarily connect the amplifier and test it to be sure it works. Do not permanently mount the amplifier until you are sure that the connections are working. CHOOSING A MOUNTING LOCATION Choose a mounting location that meets the following requirements: * Does not interfere with the vehicle's operation * Lets you drill mounting holes without damaging other vehicle components * Allows enough space around the cooling fins to permit reasonable airflow and cooling WARNING: Do not touch the amplifier or place flammable objects near it when operating. The amplifier gets very hot while in use. INCLUDED WITH THE AMPLIFIER Your amplifier comes with the following items that are necessary to mount- ing. See "Mounting the Amplifier". Be sure to unpack these items before you dispose of the packing materials * 4 Sheet-Metal Screws * 4 Spring Washers * 4 Flat Washers NOTE: If you use low-level input, you need a set of RCA cable (Radio Shack Cat. No. 42-2356). CONNECTING POWER Follow these steps to connect power to the amplifier. 1. Disconnect the positive (+) wire from your vehicle's battery. This reduces the possibility of damage to your system during installation. NOTE: You must reset the clock, the radio's digital tuner memories, and other timer/memory devices when you reconnect the battery wire after wiring is complete. 2. Connect the amplifier's black (ground) wire to a nearby part of the vehicle's metal frame. NOTE: Many modern vehicle parts are made of plastic or other materials that do not conduct electricity. You must connect the black (ground) wire to a metal part that is not insulated from the vehicle's frame by one of these non-conducting parts. 3. Connect the red (power) wire directly to the car battery's +12-volt source. CONNECTING THE SWITCHED POWER LEAD Follow these steps to connect the switched power lead. 1. Connect the supplied orange wire's make quick disconnect plug to your car stereo system's switched power lead. 2. Connect the orange wire's other end to the amplifier's REM (Remote) terminal. With this connection, your amplifier turns on/off when your turn on/off your car stereo system. CONNECTING THE AMPLIFIER To connect the amplifier to your stereo system, place the amplifier as close as possible to the selected mounting location and follow the appropriate instructions. USING A SINGLE AMPLIFIER FOR BOTH CHANNELS You can connect your stereo system to low- or high- level input for a cleaner signal. If your stereo system only has speaker outputs, connect it to the amp's high-level input. LOW-LEVEL INPUT Your amplifier has gold plated color RCA terminals for low-level input to match radios and equalizers with RCA-type, line-level outputs. NOTE: You need a set of RCA cables to connect to low-level input. Your local Radio Shack store sells RCA cables, such as Cat. No. 42-2356. 1. Plug the RCA cable into the car stereo system's left and right RCA jacks and connect the other end to the amplifier's left and right LOW INPUT terminals. 2. Connect the left speaker's positive (+) wire to the amplifier's positive (+) left terminal. 3. Connect the left speaker's negative (-) wire to the amplifier's negative (-) left terminal. 4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to connect the right speaker to the amplifier's right speaker terminal. HIGH-LEVEL INPUT If your car radio does not have RCA output jacks, you can connect the speaker output from the stereo system to the amplifier. 1. Connect the stereo system's speaker wires to the amplifier's HIGH- INPUT L and R terminals. NOTE: Be sure you connect the + and - terminals correctly. 2. If the stereo system has only three wires, connect the common speaker wire to both of the amplifier's L and R terminals. 3. Connect the left speaker's positive (+) wire to the amplifier's positive (+) left terminal. 4. Connect the left speaker's positive (+) wire to the amplifier's positive (+) left terminal. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 to connect the right speaker to the amplifier's right speaker terminal. USING A SEPARATE AMPLIFIER FOR EACH CHANNEL (BRIDGING) You can purchase two amplifiers to operate in the mono mode and provide 170 watts to each channel. LOW-LEVEL INPUT You need two Y-adapters (Cat. No. 42-2435) and a set of RCA cables (Cat. No. 42-2365) to connect the stereo system to the amplifiers. Follow these instructions to bridge the stereo system to the amplifiers' LOW INPUT terminals: 1. Connect the two ends of the Y-adapter to one amplifier's LOW INPUT L and R terminals. 2. Plug one end of the RCA cable into the Y-adapter. 3. Plug the other end of the RCA cable into the stereo system's LEFT or RIGHT LOW-LEVEL output. 4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the other amplifier. 5. Press NORMAL/BRIDGED to the BRIDGED position. 6. Connect the right speaker's positive (+) wire to the right amplifier's positive (+) left speaker terminal. 7. Connect the right speaker's negative (-) wire to the right amplifier's negative (-) left speaker terminal. 8. Repeat steps 5-7 to connect the left speaker to the left amplifier. NOTE: In the bridged mode, you connect only the left speaker terminal. HIGH-LEVEL INPUT Follow these steps to connect the speakers to the amplifier's HIGH-LEVEL terminal: 1. Connect the stereo system's left speaker terminal's positive (+) wire to both positive (+) left and right HIGH INPUT terminals on the left- channel amplifier. 2. Connect the stereo system's left speaker terminal's positive (+) wire to both negative (-) left and right HIGH INPUT terminals on the left- channel amplifier. 3. Repeat steps 1-2 for the stereo system's right speaker terminals and right channel amplifier. 4. Press NORMAL/BRIDGED to the BRIDGED position. 5. Connect the right speaker's positive (+) wire to the right amplifier's positive (+) left speaker terminal. 6. Connect the right speaker's negative (-) wire to the right amplifier's negative (-) left speaker terminal. 7. Repeat steps 4-6 to connect the left speaker to the left amplifier. NOTE: In the bridged mode, you connect only the LEFT speaker terminal. A WORD ABOUT SPEAKERS The amplifier provides stable operation when operated with 4 to 8 ohm loads. The ideal speaker impedance is 4 ohms. The minimum recommended speaker impedance is 4 ohms for each channel in normal operation. NOTE: The Owner's Manual for our Trunk Mount Amplifier (Cat. No. 12-1967) contains an error. On page 12, it states that "When operating in the bridged mode, the minimum speaker impedance is 8 ohms for each bridged channel. Operation of the amplifier below this impedance load can damage both the amplifier and your speaker and voids your warranty." Both statements are incorrect. The 8-Inch Bandpass Box Speaker (Cat. No. 12-1731), which has an impedance of 4 ohms, is safe for use with the 12-1967 amplifier. There's some concern about the heat generated when the 12-1967 is used with the 12-1731. (And yes, like any high-powered amplifier, the 12-1967 generates a log of heat-there's a lot of energy being pushed to those speakers!) That's why it's so important to mount the amplifier in a well-ventilated area where it has room to "breath." It should not be mounted under a seat or in any other enclosed area. Remind customers who want to mount the 12-1967 in a trunk that they shouldn't place item on top of it. When using the 12-1731 speaker with the 12-1967 in the bridged mode, the customer must use Y-adapters sum the left and right channels (the same way you would when using a subwoofer with a home theater system). It's preferable to use line-out (or low-level) outputs from the stereo to the 12-1967 for this application. If a customer wants to use the 12-1731 speaker with the 12-1967 amp and a stereo that doesn't have line-out outputs, recommend our Car Stereo Speaker Level to RCA Converter (Cat. No. 12-1337) to match the stereo's outputs to the 12-1967's LOW INPUT jacks. TESTING THE AMPLIFIER Before you mount the amplifier in the location you chose earlier, we suggest that you reconnect the vehicle battery's positive (+) wire and test your entire auto-sound system. MOUNTING THE AMPLIFIER Mount the amplifier as follows in the location you chose earlier. You can unplug the wiring harnesses to make mounting more convenient. 1. Using the mounting holes on the amplifier as a guide, mark the locations for the mounting holes. 2. Drill 9/64-inch holes in the marked locations, using care not to damage anything behind the mounting surface. 3. Attach the amplifier to the mounting surface using the supplied sheet- metal screws and washers. 4. Plug in the wiring harnesses. (TLC/jlc-07/17/95)