Connection Considerations
NOTICE
The 12 Vdc wiring (not included) from the battery to the amplifier must run
through an inline fuse or circuit breaker (not included) as close to the battery
as possible. You must connect the +12V (positive) wire to the fuse or circuit
breaker. Connecting the amplifier to power without an inline fuse or circuit
breaker may result in a fire if there is a short in the cable.
You must turn off the audio system before making any connections to the
amplifier. Failure to turn off the audio system may result in damage to the
audio system.
All terminals and connections must be protected from contact with the vessel
chassis and with each other. Improper terminal or wire contact may result in
damage to the audio system.
• You must first connect the amplifier to ground before making any other
wiring connections (Connecting to Power, page 3).
• You must connect the +12V (positive) wire to the battery only after you
have completed all other wiring to the amplifier.
• If your stereo does not have a remote turn-on signal wire, you must
connect the amplifier to a switched 12 Vdc source.
Port Identification
Fuses. See the product specifications for replacement details.
POWER and PROT (protection) LED indicators (Troubleshooting, page 6)
Zones 1 and 2 speaker terminals
Zones 1 and 2 RCA inputs
Power, ground, and amplifier turn-on terminals
Zones 3 and 4 RCA inputs
Zones 3 and 4 speaker terminals
Connecting to Power
You must connect the power wire to the battery through an in-line fuse or a
circuit breaker.
You must use the appropriate gauge of wire (not included) to connect the
amplifier to power and ground, based on the total amperage and the length of
the cable run (Power Cable Gauge Guide, page 3).
1
Route the appropriate gauge of wire to the amplifier and to a ground
location on the boat.
2
Using the included 3 mm hex key, connect the ground wire to the GND
terminal on the amplifier.
3
Connect the other end of the ground wire to the ground location on the
boat.
4
Route the appropriate gauge of wire to the amplifier and to the boat
battery, and select an option:
• Install an in-line fuse on the power wire as close to the battery as
possible.
• Identify or install a circuit breaker, as close to the battery as possible,
for use with the amplifier power wire.
Installation Instructions
NOTICE
You must not connect the power wire to the amplifier and battery or circuit
breaker before you complete all of the other connections. Connecting the
amplifier to power before you complete all of the other connections may
cause damage to your audio system.
5
Select an option:
• If your stereo has an amplifier turn-on wire, route a 20 AWG
2
(0.52 mm
) wire from the amplifier turn-on wire on the stereo to the
amplifier.
NOTE: The amplifier and the stereo must connect to the same physical
ground location for the amplifier turn-on signal to function properly.
• If your stereo does not have an amplifier turn-on wire, route a 20 AWG
2
(0.52 mm
) wire from the positive terminal of the battery, through a
switch, to the amplifier.
6
Using a the included 2.5 mm hex key, connect the 20 AWG (0.52 mm
wire to the REM terminal on the amplifier.
Make all of the other connections to the stereo and speakers before
completing the connection to power (Completing the Connections, page 4).
Power Cable Gauge Guide
2
You should use 4 AWG (21.1 mm
) wire for most installations. If your total
amperage is higher than 50–65 A, and your cable run is longer than 10–13 ft
(3–4 m), you can use these tables to determine if you need to use a larger
gauge of wire. This table accounts for terminal connection resistance.
NOTE: If you are using aluminum or tinned wire, you should use a wire two
gauges larger than the gauge listed below to compensate for a potential
voltage drop due to the wire material.
Total Amperage
0––4 ft.
4–7 ft.
(0–1.2 m)
(1.2–2.1 m)
85–105 A
4 AWG
4 AWG
2
(21.1 mm
)
(21.1 mm
105–125 A
4 AWG
4 AWG
2
(21.1 mm
)
(21.1 mm
125–150 A
2 AWG
2 AWG
2
(33.6 mm
)
(33.6 mm
Total Amperage
13–16 ft.
16–19 ft.
(4–4.9 m)
(4.9–5.8 m)
50–65 A
4 AWG
4 AWG
2
(21.1 mm
)
(21.1 mm
65–85 A
2 AWG
2 AWG
2
(33.6 mm
)
(33.6 mm
85–105 A
2 AWG
2 AWG
2
(33.6 mm
)
(33.6 mm
105–125 A
0 AWG
0 AWG
2
(53.5 mm
)
(53.5 mm
125–150 A
0 AWG
0 AWG
2
(53.5 mm
)
(53.5 mm
Signal and Speaker Connection Considerations
When connecting your stereo and speakers to the amplifier, observe the
following considerations:
• Each set of zone speaker terminals on the amplifier is paired to the RCA
inputs for that zone.
• Each channel supports a nominal 4 Ohm speaker load impedance, and a
2 Ohm minimum speaker load impedance.
• You can connect two speakers in parallel on a single channel, and the
combined impedance must be greater than the 2 Ohm minimum load
impedance (Connecting Multiple Speakers or Subwoofers In Parallel,
page 4).
• You can connect either a zone low-level output or a subwoofer low-level
output from the stereo to any of the zone RCA inputs on the amplifier.
• You should use 16 AWG (1.31 mm
and subwoofers to the amplifier.
2
)
7–10 ft.
10–13 ft.
(2.1–3 m)
(3–4 m)
4 AWG
2 AWG
2
2
2
)
(21.1 mm
)
(33.6 mm
)
4 AWG
2 AWG
2
2
2
)
(21.1 mm
)
(33.6 mm
)
2 AWG
0 AWG
2
2
2
)
(33.6 mm
)
(53.5 mm
)
19–22 ft.
22–28 ft.
(5.8–6.7 m)
(6.7–8.5 m)
4 AWG
2 AWG
2
2
2
)
(21.1 mm
)
(33.6 mm
)
2 AWG
0 AWG
2
2
2
)
(33.6 mm
)
(53.5 mm
)
2 AWG
0 AWG
2
2
2
)
(33.6 mm
)
(53.5 mm
)
0 AWG
0 AWG
2
2
2
)
(53.5 mm
)
(53.5 mm
)
0 AWG
0 AWG
2
2
2
)
(53.5 mm
)
(53.5 mm
)
2
) speaker wire to connect speakers
3