Camco Q-POWER 14 User Manual

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Q-POWER 14

POWER AMPLIFIER

USER MANUAL

MADE IN GERMANY

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

CONTENTS

Welcome to the Q-POWER 14 User Manual 4

Important Safety Instructions 5

Explanation of Symbols 7

EC Declaration of Conformity 8

1. Welcome to CAMCO 9

1.1 Unpacking 9

2. The Ampliﬁer 10

2.1 The Q-POWER 14 Front 11

2.2 The Q-POWER 14 Rear 11

3. Mains 12

3.1 Mains Supply 12

3.2 Mains Plugs and Cables 12

3.3 On / Off Switch 12

3.4 Mains Voltage Range 13

3.5 Inrush Current Limitation 13

3.6 Mains Power Consumption and Current Draw 14

3.7 FuseProtect™ Limiter - Mains Circuit Breaker selection 15

4. Mounting 16

4.1 Mounting Dimensions Q-POWER 14 16

4.2 Cooling 16

4.3 Fans 16

5. Input and Output Connectors 17

5.1 Analogue Input Connectors 17

5.2 SPEAKON® Loudspeaker Output Connectors 18

6. Operation 19

6.1 Indicators 19

6.1.1 ON LEDs 19

6.1.2 SIGNAL/Protect LEDs (multifunctional) 19

6.1.3 I-OUT Output Current LEDs 19

6.1.4 CLIP LEDs (multifunctional) 19

6.2 Controls 19

6.2.1 Volume Control 19

6.2.2 Gain Selector 19

6.2.3 Clip Limiter Switch 19

6.3 CAMCO USB MCB Updater 20

7. Protections 21

7.1 Power Amp Protection Systems 21

7.1.1 Clip Limiter 21

7.1.2 SOA Protection 21

7.1.3 DC Protection 21

7.1.4 DC Servo 21

7.1.5 Output Current Limiter 21

7.1.6 Underimpedance Limiter 21

7.1.7 Output Short Circuit Protection 21

7.1.8 Thermal Limitation and Protection 21

7.1.9 High Frequency Protection 22

7.2 Mains and Power Supply Protections 22

7.2.1 Inrush Current Limitation 22

7.2.2 Mains Overvoltage Detection 22

7.2.3 Mains Surge Overvoltage Protection 22

7.2.4 Mains Failure Detection 22

7.2.5 Mains Overcurrent Limiter 22

7.2.6 Over Current Protection 22

7.2.7 Fuse / MCB Protection (FuseProtect™ Limiter) 22

7.2.8 Thermal Protection 22

8. Filter Cleaning 23

8.1 Removing the Filter System and Cleaning 23

9. Volume Control Security Cover 24

9.1 Mounting the Volume Control Security Cover 24

10. Troubleshooting 25

10.1 No reaction when switching the ampliﬁer on 25

10.2 All four signal LEDs are red, the green On-LEDs are off 25

10.3 All green On-LEDs are on, but there is no sound 25

10.4 Sound is distorted 25

10.5 Sound is distorted although Clip Limiter is On 25

10.6 Signal and Clip LED of one or more channels are red

intermittently 26

10.7 Output power lower than usual 26

10.8 The ampliﬁer gets hot very quickly 26

10.9 The CAMCO USB MCB Updater application does not

connect to the ampliﬁer 26

11. Speciﬁcations 27

12. Typical Performance Diagrams 30

12.1 Gain vs. frequency, 120 W output power 30

12.2 Phase vs. frequency 30

12.3 THD @ 1 kHz vs. input level 30

12.4 THD vs. frequency, 120 W output power 30

12.5 Channel separation vs. frequency @ 3 × 120 W / 4 Ω 31

12.6 DIM100 vs. input level @ 4 Ω load 31

12.7 Common mode rejection ratio vs. frequency 31

12.8 FFT of noise level vs. frequency 31

12.9 Output impedance vs. frequency 32

12.10 Damping factor vs. frequency 32

13. Unit Conversion Equations and Lookup Table 33

13.1 Unit Conversion Equations 33

13.2 Lookup Table 33

14. Warranty Information 34

14.1 Summary of Warranty 34

14.2 Items Excluded from This Warranty 34

14.3 What CAMCO Will Do 34

14.4 How to Obtain Warranty Service 34

14.5 CAMCO Product Improvement 34

15. Service Information 35

16. Maintenance Information 36

17. Decommissioning 36

Company information 37

Changes Made to The Ampliﬁer / Notices 38

Hole template for Volume Control Security Cover 40

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

INFORMATION FOR USE

Welcome to the Q-POWER 14 User Manual

Please visit our website www.camcoaudio.com for the latest version of this user manual. Please note that the leading version of CAMCO manuals is always the English one.

TDA282USERENC

Revision C, 2015-04-14

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Important Safety Instructions

1. General

The ampliﬁer may only be used in accordance with the information provided in the user manual. Before and during the usage of the ampliﬁer please ensure that all recommendations, especially the safety recommendations as detailed in the user manual, are adhered to.

The Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁer is designed for the ampliﬁcation of pulsed audio signals. The ampliﬁer should only be connected to speakers with an average impedance as indicated.

2. User Manual

Read the information for use (user manual) and heed all warnings. Keep this user manual in a safe place during the lifetime of the ampliﬁer. The user manual forms an integral part of the ampliﬁer. Reselling the ampliﬁer is only possible if the user manual is available. In case of reselling the ampliﬁer, the reseller has to document any changes made to the ampliﬁer in writing and pass the documentation on to the buyer.

3. Environments

Use this ampliﬁer only in E1, E2, E3, or E4 environments according to EN55103-2 “Electromagnetic compatibility – Product family standard for audio, video, and audio-visual and entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use – Part 2: Immunity”.

4. Mounting / Placement

Do not place this ampliﬁer on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The ampliﬁer may fall causing serious injury and serious damage to the product. Any mounting of the ampliﬁer should follow the manufacturer´s instructions. Only mounting accessory shall be used which is recommended by the manufacturer.

5. Mains Connection

The ampliﬁer may only be connected to a socket with a protective earth connector.

6. Power Cord Protection

Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon them or against them, paying particular attention to cords and plugs and the point where they exit from the ampliﬁer. The disconnection device from mains (mains plug or external all-pole circuit breaker) shall remain readily operable and freely accessible at all times.

7. Heat

Do not use this ampliﬁer near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatuses that produce heat.

8. Water and Moisture

Do not expose this device to rain, moisture, dripping or splashing water. Do not use this ampliﬁer near water (for example swimming pools and fountains). Do not place any objects containing liquids, such as bottles or glasses, on the top of the unit. Do not splash liquids on the unit. IP-20 equipment. There is no protection against splashing water.

9. Ventilation

Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the ampliﬁer and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or covered. This ampliﬁer should not be installed unless proper ventilation is provided or manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to.

10. Interference of External Objects and/or Liquids with the Appliance

Never push objects of any kind into this ampliﬁer through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in ﬁre or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the ampliﬁer.

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

11. Connections

When you connect the ampliﬁer to other equipment, turn off the power and unplug all of the equipment from the supply source. Failure to do so may cause an electric shock and serious personal injury. Read the user manual of the other equipment carefully and follow the instructions when making the connections.

12. Lightning

For additional protection of this ampliﬁer during lightning storms or when it is left unattended and/or unused for long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet. This will prevent damage to the ampliﬁer due to lightning and power line surges. Disconnection from the mains power supply can only be achieved by removing the plug from the mains socket or by external disconnecting all poles from the mains.

13. Damages that require service

Unplug this ampliﬁer from the mains supply and refer to your dealer / distributor or other authorized repair workshop if any of the following situations occur:

> if liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the ampliﬁer > if the ampliﬁer has been exposed to rain or moisture > if the ampliﬁer has been dropped or damaged in any other way > if the power supply cord or plug has been damaged > when the ampliﬁer exhibits a distinct change from its normal function or

performance

> in case the ampliﬁer has been used in a dusty environment for quite a

period of time

14. Servicing

All service and repair work must be carried out by a dealer / distributor authorized by CAMCO. Do not attempt to service this ampliﬁer yourself. As opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards, the ampliﬁer may only be opened by qualiﬁed personnel. Please refer to your dealer / distributor.

15. Spare parts

When spare parts are required, please ensure that the dealer / distributor only uses spare parts speciﬁed by the manufacturer. The use of un authorized spare parts may result in injury and / or damage through ﬁre or electric shock or other electricity-related hazards.

16. Safety check

Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the dealer / distributor to perform safety checks to determine that the ampliﬁer works properly. Recommendations on how to carry out the safety test can be found in DIN VDE 0701-1 “Maintenance, Modiﬁcation and Test of Electronic Appliances“.

17. Cleaning

Unplug this ampliﬁer from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Clean only with dry cloth.

18. Packaging and shipping

When shipping the Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁer, always use the original shipping carton and packing materials. For maximum protection repack the unit as it was originally packed at the factory.

19. Altitude (for China)

The ampliﬁer shall only be operated at altitudes below or equal 2000 m.

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

EXPLANATION OF SYSMBOLS

Explanation of Symbols

CAUTION – RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK – DO NOT OPEN.

WARNING – TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT

EXPOSE THIS AMPLIFIER TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

CAUTION – HIGH VOLTAGE HAZARDS

EXIST WITHIN THIS PRODUCT.

REFER ALL SERVICING TO

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

THE LIGHTNING FLASH WITH ARROW HEAD SYMBOL ALERTS

THE USER TO DANGEROUSLY HIGH VOLTAGE AT THE OUTPUT

CONNECTORS! THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE LIFE THREATENING.

THE LIGHTNING FLASH WITH ARROW HEAD SYMBOL IS INTENDED TO

ALERT THE USER TO THE PRESENCE OF UNINSULATED DANGEROUS

VOLTAGE WITHIN THE PRODUCT’S ENCLOSURE.

THE EXCLAMATION MARK IS INTENDED TO ALERT THE USER

TO IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS ALSO FOR MAINTENANCE IN THE

LITERATURE ACCOMPANYING THE AMPLIFIER.

THE AMPLIFIER MAY ONLY BE CONNECTED

TO A SOCKET WITH A PROTECTIVE EARTH CONDUCTOR.

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

EC DECLARATION OF CONFIRMITY

EC Declaration of Conformity

EC Declaration of Conformity in accordance to EC Directives:

Electromagnetic compatibility (Council Directive 2004/108/EC) Low-voltage electrical equipment (Council Directive 2006/95/EC)

Manufacturer´s Name:

CAMCO Produktions- und Vertriebs-GmbH für Beschallungs- und Beleuchtungsanlagen

Manufacturer´s Address:

Fischpicke 5, D-57482 Wenden, Germany

Declares that the product with the model name:

CAMCO Power ampliﬁer Q-POWER 14

Conforms to the following standards:

> IEC / EN / UL / CSA 60065 > EN55103-1 Emission > EN55103-2 Immunity

The operating conditions and application environments presupposed in the information for use (user manual) are to be kept accordingly.

Wenden, 31.10.2014

Joachim Stöcker

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

WELCOME!

1. Welcome to CAMCO

Thank you for choosing CAMCO products. You are now the proud owner of a very advanced CAMCO Ampliﬁer. The technologies used in your ampliﬁer are of the latest generation and designs delivering a far reaching set of results across all functions.

The ampliﬁer has been designed to be incorporated into a professional speaker system and is suitable for use across all applications from Touring Live Sound to Fixed Installations.

Your speaker systems will beneﬁt from the renowned CAMCO sonic quality as well as the many operating functions and features detailed within this manual which are incorporated within the design to maximise results.

The CAMCO peace of mind long term manufactures warranty is our commitment to you that every CAMCO ampliﬁer is ready to give you many years of faultless service.

WELCOME TO CAMCO!

1.1 Unpacking

Please unpack and inspect your new ampliﬁer for any damage that may have occurred during transit. If damage is found, notify the transportation company immediately. Only you the consignee may initiate a claim for shipping damage. CAMCO will be happy to cooperate fully as needed. Please save the shipping carton as evidence of damage for the shipper’s inspection.

Even if the ampliﬁer has arrived in perfect condition, save all packing materials so you will have them if you ever need to transport the unit.

NOTE

Never ship the amplier without the original packing materials.

When shipping the Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁer, always use the original shipping carton and packing materials. For maximum protection, repack the unit as it was originally packed at the factory.

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

THE AMPLIFIER

2. The Ampliﬁer

World’s ﬁrst DSP controlled Power Supply in Professional Audio.

The all new Q-POWER 14 with DSP controlled PFC power supply is the ﬂagship of the series, offering up to 14 000 W of undistorted power in an very compact and lightweight package.

The development of a DSP controlled, active PFC (Power Factor Correction) enables the Q-POWER 14 to use the mains power supply much more efﬁciently than conventional designs. The PFC provides solid supply voltage to the ampliﬁer output stages, regardless of ﬂuctuating or dropping mains voltages. The power supply can be conﬁgured to different mains circuit breaker characteristics and tripping currents through the USB connector on the rear. The Q-POWER 14 power supply’s DSP automatically choses the best regulating algorithms for highest power performance for any mains voltage range (100 V, 120 V and 230 V). Furthermore the Q-POWER 14 introduces the improved class D ampliﬁer technology already known from the Q-POWER 10, offering smooth and responsive handling with massive output power while maintaining CAMCO’s famous sonic integrity.

In addition to an improved signal to noise-ratio offering outstanding 118,5 dB (A-weighted), the impedance headroom has also been increased, meaning that the Q-POWER 14 is able to drive any kind of loudspeaker system even down to the lowest impedances. With the introduction of the Q-POWER SERIES CAMCO aim to deliver simple, pure and reliable power for applications where cost and ease of use are paramount.

Power output @ operating mode

Q-POWER 14

4× 3 520 W @ 3,2 Ω peak

4× 3 250 W @ 2,7 Ω

4× 3 030 W @ 3,2 Ω

4× 2 900 W @ 2 Ω

4× 2 520 W @ 4 Ω

4× 1 380 W @ 8 Ω

4× 715 W @ 16 Ω

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

THE AMPLIFIER

2.1 The Q-POWER 14 Front

Clip-LEDs I-Out-LEDs Signal-LEDs On-LEDs Volume controls channel A to D Removable air ﬁlter system Cooling air inlet vents On/Off switch Optional volume control security cover

2.2 The Q-POWER 14 Rear

Rating plate (placed on the inside of the ﬂap) AC power socket Cooling air outlet vents SPEAKON® output connectors channel A to D USB type B socket (for update and MCB programming only) Service socket (for factory use only) Gain selector Clip limiter switch for channel A/B and C/D XLR input connectors channel A to D Euroblock input connectors channel A to D

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

MAINS SUPPLY

3. Mains

3.1 Mains Supply

The Q-POWER 14’s power supply is a true wide-range SMPS with active power factor correction (PFC). This means that it can be operated anywhere in the world without the need of any manual voltage range setting.

When mounting or connecting the amp always disconnect it from mains. Only connect the Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁer to an appropriate AC circuit, according to the requirements indicated in the second line on the rating plate.

3.2 Mains Plugs and Cables

Only use mains cables with original Neutrik® powerCON® 32 A connectors for safety reasons.

NOTE

Please never unplug the powerCON® cable from the amplier while it is still carrying live voltage. Even if the amplier is switched off!

Unplugging must always be done on the other end of the mains cable (i.e. with the wall outlet plug*, or by the installation circuit breaker(s)). The reason ist that the powerCON® connector is not designed for disconnecting live voltages, as this might deteriorate it’s contact performance over time.

* provided the connector is suited as a disconnect device, as for example the “Schuko”

plug used in Europe or the Twist-Lock plugs used in North America

NOTE

Please make sure to always use appropriate mains cables and wall outlet plugs offering sufcient current rating.

See also chapter 3.7 for more details on current rating and circuit breaker selection.

And of course do never remove the protective earth conductor, under any circumstances. The Q-POWER 14 must always be connected to a socket with a protective earth connector.

! WARNING

DO NEVER REMOVE OR DISCONNECT THE MAINS GROUND/EARTH CONNECTION. IT IS ILLEGAL AND DANGEROUS!

3.3 On / Off Switch

The On / Off Switch is a rocker-type switch. It is located on the right side of the front panel. To turn the ampliﬁer on, press on the upper part of the switch. During power up the Clip- and Signal-LEDs of all channels will light up in red for a few seconds. To turn the ampliﬁer off, press on the lower part of the switch.

Ampliﬁer is switched on Ampliﬁer is switched off

NOTE

This switch does NOT disconnect the amplier from mains.

Disconnecting the ampliﬁer from the mains can only be achieved by disconnecting the mains plug or by the installation circuit breaker(s). The mains plug or circuit breaker(s) therefore have to be freely accessible at all times. Disconnect the mains plug from the mains during a thunderstorm or when the ampliﬁer remains unused or unsupervised for a prolonged period of time.

While switched off and still connected to mains, the Q-POWER 14 will have an average power consumtion of less than 2 W.



   

  

 

Q-POWER 14

100 - 240 V ~ 50/60 Hz 2200 W

3000 W / 2,7 Ohm

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

MAINS SUPPLY

3.4 Mains Voltage Range

To guarantee the best ampliﬁer performance all over the world the power supply internally works with three mains voltage “grids” or “ranges”. These are:

> 100 VAC (Japan) > 110-127 VAC (North and parts of South America) > 200-240 VAC (Europe and the “Rest of the World”)

For each grid there is a set of highly optimised control parameters to get the maximum power performance achievable. The appropriate grid is automatically selected each time the ampliﬁer is powered up. The grid selection is done solely inside the power supply’s DSP software, there are no electrical or electromechanical switches (e.g. relays) inside the power supply.

The selection of the three grids is based on the analysis of the mains voltage for approx. 1 second, and done on following thresholds:

Japan

(100 VAC)

America

(110 – 127 VAC)

ROW (Rest of the World)

(200 – 240 VAC)

ß 80 V 107 V à ß 107 V 140 V à ß 140 V 265 V à

NOTE

The power supply will not start below approx. 80 V and above approx. 265 V. Once running, it can handle mains voltages from 50 to 280 V.

Once the Q-POWER 14 is powered up the range will be kept even if the mains voltage varies in large borders, according to these thresholds:

Range Nominal voltage Operating range

Japan 100 V

50 V – 180 V

America 110 – 127 V

50 V – 180 V

ROW (Rest of the World) 200 – 240 V

50 V – 280 V

This means that if the mains voltage rises higher than 180 V in either the Japan or the America range, the power supply will switch off shortly and restart in the ROW range (provided the mains voltage is stable and higher than 140 V).

On the other hand, if the Q-POWER 14 is once running in ROW range, the range is never changed anymore, until power loss or manual switch-off.

3.5 Inrush Current Limitation

The Q-POWER 14 has a special algorithm dedicated to limit the mains inrush current. This limiter will take action anytime the main SMPS is powered up. It will conﬁne the mains current to a value smaller than 15 A

RMS

* maximum rms value of inrush current over one half-cycle of the mains voltage according

to DIN EN 55103-1.

NOTE

When demanding very high output powers the mains current can reach levels up to 75 A (ROW range) or 106 A (America and Japan range) for very short periods of time. This could cause lamps to icker if connected to the same mains as the amplier.

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

MAINS SUPPLY

3.6 Mains Power Consumption and Current Draw

Operating condition

Voltage Mains

current

Mains power consumption

Continuous

output power

2) 3)

Power

factor

Thermal dissipation

BTU/h Overall Efﬁciency

Q-POWER 14

Ampliﬁer standby (power off)

230 V 0,6 A

< 2 W 0 W ~ 0,00 < 2 W 6,8 n/a120 V 0,4 A

100 V 0,3 A

Idle (ampliﬁer powered on)

230 V 0,9 A

130 W 0 W

0,61

130 W 443 n/a120 V 1,2 A 0,92

100 V 1,3 A 0,96

1/8th output power

230 V

9,5 A 2 100 W

1 500 W

0,95 600 W 2 047 71 %

120 V

18,0 A 2 150 W 0,97 650 W 2 218 69 %

100 V

21,5 A 2 200 W 0,97 700 W 2 388 68 %

1/4th output power

230 V

17,5 A 3 950 W

3 000 W

0,97 950 W 3 242 76 %

120 V

34,0 A 4 050 W 0,99 1 050 W 3 583 74 %

100 V

41,0 A 4 100 W 0,99 1 100 W 3 753 73 %

Full output power

230 V

max. 75 A max. 15 400 W 13 000 W 0,99 2 300 W 7 848 85 %

120 V

max. 106 A max. 12 220 W 10 000 W 0,99 2 200 W 7 507 82 %

100 V

max. 106 A max. 10 100 W 8 000 W 0,99 2 100 W 7 165 79 %

1) Measured with pink noise @ 4 x 375 W / 2,7 Ω load (with crest factor of 12 dB to represent typical music signal).

2) Measured with 1 kHz continuous sine-wave @ 4 x 750 W / 2,7 Ω load. Duration limited by FuseProtect™ / MCB limiter and ampliﬁer heating (thermal limiter).

3) Measured with 1 kHz sine-wave burst signal, @ 4 x 2,7 Ω load, THD <= 1%, min. 500 ms burst duration.

4) The overall efﬁciency is the ratio of the delivered output power to the mains power consumption. It indicates how much of the consumed mains input power is effectively delivered to the loudspeakers.

NOTE on mains current

The values given here are typical values only, measured on a standard outlet. The actual instantaneous mains current draw can vary depending on the music signal and the mains characteristics (especially the mains impedance) of any specic installation. But it will never be larger than the maximum values at full output power indicated in the table.

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Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

MAINS SUPPLY

3.7 FuseProtect™ Limiter - Mains Circuit Breaker selection

The integrated FuseProtect™ feature will at all times limit the mains current draw to the maximum current handling capabilities of the speciﬁc programmed MCB for each mains voltage range.

When shipped, the Q-POWER 14 is programmed with default MCBs for each mains voltage range. These are:

> 16 A C-type for the ROW range > 30 A for the America range > 30 A for the Japan range

The appropriate MCB is automatically loaded each time the Q-POWER 14 is powered up.

If needed for a speciﬁc installation, the user has the option to customise the MCB for each voltage range with the help of the

CAMCO USB MCB Updater

application. This application also allows to update the power supply’s ﬁrmware. Please check our website for latest updates.

See also chapter 6.3.

! WARNING!

For safety reasons, do never operate the Q-POWER 14 directly on larger breakers than 32 A. The powerCON® mains plug, the mains cable and the Q-POWER 14’s internal hardware is not designed for use on larger breakers (because of theoretically to small current carrying capacity in comparison to the installed MCB in case of an installation short-circuit). So do never “share” one large breaker (e.g. 50 A or 64 A) for two or more Q-POWER 14 ampliers.

Only in case the Q-POWER 14 is programmed with a MCB smaller or equal 16 A it is allowed to share a 32 A MCB for two or more ampliﬁers. But still we suggest to always use one breaker for each ampliﬁer, as this also increases system robustness and selectivity in case of an installation problem.

If desired, the user has the option to select a MCB as high as 32 A even for the “ROW” mains voltage range, effectively doubling the long term input current capacity (compared to the default 16 A MCB).

NOTE

Please make sure to always use appropriate mains cables and plugs offering sufcient current rating for the selected MCB. For instance it is not allowed to use the european 16 A “Schuko” plug when selecting larger breakers than 16 A. In this case the plug would be operated above it’s current specication and could get extremely hot, potentially creating isolation or re hazards.

Using larger MCBs in the ROW range will drastically raise the long-term output power capacity of the Q-POWER 14, especially when driving small loudspeaker impedances on all channels. This is because the FuseProtect™ limiter will only take action much later than with the default 16 A MCB, effectively offering higher output powers over a longer period of time (up to minutes or hours). But note that the max. achievable peak power is not affected by selecting a larger MCB. On the other hand, higher long-term output power will result in increased heating of the ampliﬁer stages. So be aware that the ampliﬁer module’s thermal limitation might occur more easily when running the Q-POWER 14 with continuous mains currents larger than approx. 20 A over longer periods of time. Thermal limitiation will result in reduced output level, possibly slight audio quality loss or even (in extreme situations) in short term ampliﬁer module switch-off.

Please note that all MCBs always allow for much higher peak currents than their rated values before tripping. For example a 16 A breaker with C-type tripping characteristic will tolerate peak currents up to 80 A. The Q-POWER 14 FuseProtect™ limiter will exaclty calculate the MCBs workload and always limit the actual mains current to values just below the tripping zone of the installed breaker. This offers maximum output power headroom for your show while at the same time protecting your electrical installation from being stressed beyond it’s limits.

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USER MANUAL

Q-POWER 14 | POWER AMPLIFIER

INSTALLATION

4. Mounting

Use four screws and washers when mounting the ampliﬁer to the front rack rails. For mobile and touring use, the ampliﬁer should also be secured using the 19” mounting elements on the rear panel.

4.1 Mounting Dimensions Q-POWER 14

4.2 Cooling

The air is taken in from the front and streams out through the back. It is essential that while the ampliﬁer is running the air is able to circulate around it freely. The efﬁciency of the cooling will depend on the immediate environment (e.g. an enclosed rack, direct sunlight). If the amp is installed in a case or rack, please make sure the air outlet vents are not obstructed in any way, so that the hot air is able to stream out freely.

4.3 Fans

The fans mounted in the Q-POWER 14 operate permanently, but as long as the temperature remains below 40 °C they run at their slowest speed and can hardly be heard. The highest detected temperature from either the ampliﬁer stages or the power supply controls the speed of the fans: above 40 °C the speed is increased until it reaches its maximum value.

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CONNECTORS

5. Input and Output Connectors

5.1 Analogue Input Connectors

XLR Pin 1 ground

Pin 2 hot (in phase, +)

Pin 3 cold (out phase, –)

Euroblock Pin 1 hot (in phase, +)

Pin 2 ground

Pin 3 cold (out phase, –)

Make sure to always use high-quality symmetrical (balanced) shielded cable to ensure maximum audio quality.

Please do not simultaneously attach two independent signal sources to the XLR and Euroblock input connectors of the same channel. This could lead to volume and audio quality loss and could damage the connected signal sources.

Input B Input A

In C In A

231231 231231

In BIn D

Input CInput D

+-+-+-

Input B Input A

In C In A

1 321 32 1 321 32

In BIn D

Input CInput D

+ - + - + - + -

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CONNECTORS

5.2 SPEAKON® Loudspeaker Output Connectors

The four SPEAKON® connectors are connected to the channel A to D power ampliﬁer outputs. The pin conﬁguration of the connectors is:

SPEAKON® output 2 (View from the back)

SPEAKON® output 1 (View from the back)

Pin 1 + Channel C Output + Pin 1 + Channel A Output +

Pin 1 – Channel C Output – Pin 1 – Channel A Output –

Pin 2 + Channel D Output + Pin 2 + Channel B Output +

Pin 2 – Channel D Output – Pin 2 – Channel B Output –

SPEAKON® output 4 (View from the back)

SPEAKON® output 3 (View from the back)

Pin 1 + Channel D Output + Pin 1 + Channel B Output +

Pin 1 – Channel D Output – Pin 1 – Channel B Output –

Pin 2 + Channel C Output + Pin 2 + Channel A Output +

Pin 2 – Channel C Output – Pin 2 – Channel A Output –

NOTE / IMPORTANT

The Q-POWER 14 uses a bridged power amplier output stage. This implies that the “Output –” loudspeaker outputs are not (and must never be) directly connected to the electrical ground (earth) or chassis of the amplier! Please make sure to always attach the loudspeakers between the “Output +” and the “Output –” outputs of the same channel.

! WARNING!

SPEAKON® connectors marked with the lightning ash indicate high voltages that are potentially life threatening.

Wiring to these terminals requires installation by an instructed person or the use of ready-made leads or cords. Custom wiring must only be made by qualiﬁed personnel.

To prevent electric shock, do not operate the ampliﬁer with damaged loudspeaker cables (i.e. if the isolations are damaged or if the internal wires are exposed).

Wiring to the output connectors must conform to NEC Class 2 safety standards or its equivalent that meets all national and local electric codes.

NOTE

For reasons of safety and performance, use only high-quality fully in sulated speaker cables of stranded copper wire.

Use the largest wire size that is economically and physically practical, and make sure the cables are no longer than necessary.

The Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁers can handle any loudspeaker impedance down to 2 Ω. Lower impedances are still safe, but will result in less efﬁciency, increased heating of the ampliﬁer stages and possibly noticeable loss in audio quality. Impedances lower than approximately 0,6 Ω (ideal resistive load) can lead to short term shutdown of the corresponding ampliﬁer module. Once the underimpedance situation is gone, the ampliﬁer module will resume normal operation.

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OPERATION

6. Operation

6.1 Indicators

6.1.1 ON LEDs

Under normal operation, after the amp has started, all four green ON LEDs are permanently lit.

6.1.2 SIGNAL/Protect LEDs (multifunctional)

The green Signal LEDs are illuminated when the voltage level at the output reaches approx. 4 V; this corresponds to a power of approx. 4 W into a 4Ω load. The channel signal LEDs are illuminated red when the ampliﬁer is in Protect Mode (Mute), for example because of persistent DC-voltage at the outputs or overheating.

6.1.3 I-OUT Output Current LEDs

The brightness is proportional to the output current in the corresponding channel.

6.1.4 CLIP LEDs (multifunctional)

The colour of the bi-coloured LED changes between orange and red, depending on the clip intensity. Orange indicates light clipping, red indicates heavy clipping.

6.2 Controls

6.2.1 Volume Control

A volume control with 41 notched settings controls the audio signal. These settings have been selected to correspond to human hearing characteristics (logarithmically) and therefore guarantee an optimal range of settings for practical applications. Each channel can be set individually.

Set the volume to zero before turning the ampliﬁer on to prevent the occurrence of sudden high volume levels which may cause damage to your hearing and the speakers.

6.2.2 Gain Selector

A switch on the rear of the Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁer allows to select the overall ampliﬁer gain.

The Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁer has a 26 dB and 32 dB voltage gain setting along with a 1,4 V sensitivity setting.

6.2.3 Clip Limiter Switch

This switch is located at the rear of the Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁer. It allows you to activate the clip limiter function on the channels A/B and C/D respectively.

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OPERATION

6.3 CAMCO USB MCB Updater

The

CAMCO USB MCB Updater

offers a set of different commonly used mains breakers, and allows to permanently store it inside the ampliﬁer. The stored MCBs will be maintained even after power loss. The application also can display a graph showing in detail each MCBs tripping characteristic.

In case you do not ﬁnd the appropriate (or any similar) breaker in the list of currently supported MCBs, please contact CAMCO for adding those MCBs to the set. For adding, we would need the brand name, type name or number and, if available, a datasheet showing the tripping characteristic graph.

But note that the highest continuous current of any MCB will always be limited 32 A max., even in the two lower mains voltage ranges. No larger MCB can be selected and will be offered in the future, due to internal hardware limitations.

NOTE

When connecting the Q-POWER 14 to your host computer with the USB cable, the amplier will shut down completely and all LEDs will be switched off. This behaviour is normal. The amplier will restart automatically once the USB cable is removed.

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PROTECTIONS

7. Protections

7.1 Power Amp Protection Systems

7.1.1 Clip Limiter

If the maximum output level is higher than the ampliﬁer can deliver, the Clip Limiter (if active) will reduce the output signal in order to limit distortion. The Clip Limiter works on each channel independently, but can only be activated for the channel pairs A/B or C/D respectively. The Clip LED sensitivity on the display is designed to be very responsive and accurate. This means that you will still see the Clip LEDs light up, even if the clip limiter is working correctly. This allowes the user still to assess if there is real clip, even if the clip limiter does prohibit audible distortion. The remaining (and indicated) clip is then very small and usually low enough to be audibly perceive as “clean” or undistorted signal, compared to a disabled clip limiter.

7.1.2 SOA Protection

Whenever the power transistors leave their Safe Operation Area (SOA), the SOA-protection will limit the maximum output current in an extremely fast way, to effectively protect the semiconductors from any damage. This protection will usually only take place at loudspeaker impedances equal or lower 2 Ω. Audio quality might be deteriorated when this limiter takes action.

7.1.3 DC Protection

Each output of the power amp is constantly monitored for persistent DC voltage levels. If the approx. 5 V thresholds are exceeded at any of the outputs, the corresponding channel will be muted. If DC was only detected for a short moment, the ampliﬁer will release mute and resume operation. If DC is detected for longer periods or repeatedly, the ampliﬁer will switch to standby mode and disable the main power supply.

7.1.4 DC Servo

To prevent DC offset at the speaker output the Q-POWER 14 ampliﬁer is ﬁtted with a DC Servo (hence there are no capacitors in the signal path!).

7.1.5 Output Current Limiter

The output current to the loudspeakers is permanently controlled in the output stage. In case of exessive loading the maximum output current of the ampliﬁers is automatically limited. This improves reliability without degrading sound quality when driving complex loads.

7.1.6 Underimpedance Limiter

In case the SOA protection is triggered repeatedly, each ampliﬁer module will clip it’s maximum output level until SOA protection is not reached anymore. This usually only takes place at loudspeaker impedances equal or lower approx. 2 Ω. This limitation is done through pure clipping of the output voltage, so it will result in audible distortion in case the Clip Limiter is not activated.

7.1.7 Output Short Circuit Protection

In case the attached loudspeaker impedance gets lower than approx. 0,6 Ω (e.g. in case of any short-circuit inside the loudspeaker or the cabling) each ampliﬁer module will switch off completely for 3 seconds to protect internal electronics. After 3 seconds, the module will try to resume operation (... and possibly again trigger the circuit protection in case the short circuit is still present).

Note

This protection only works for mid to high output levels. Low output levels will not be enough to trigger the short circuit protection, even if the short is well below 0,6 Ω. At low output levels, the amplier will only carry out SOA, output current, underimpedance and possibly thermal limitation but will continue to deliver music.

7.1.8 Thermal Limitation and Protection

There are sensors in each ampliﬁer heatsink in order to ascertain it’s temperature. If a temperature of more than 85 °C is detected at the heatsinks, the input signal on that channel is reduced proportionally to prevent further heating of the ampliﬁer. If the temperature exceeds approximately 95 °C, the corresponding channel is muted completely.

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PROTECTIONS

7.1.9 High Frequency Protection

All outputs are permanently monitored for high-frequency high output signals. Continous output of 22 kHz sine-wave signals at full scale is permissible, but higher frequencies at very high output levels might trigger this protection. If detected, the corresponding ampliﬁer module will be switched off for a few seconds and restarted again.

7.2 Mains and Power Supply Protections

7.2.1 Inrush Current Limitation

Within 7 seconds of the ampliﬁer being switched on, the inrush current limiter will increase mains current from nearly zero to nominal value. This value depends on program material, output level and speaker loads.

7.2.2 Mains Overvoltage Detection

Mains over voltage detection is always operative. When the mains voltage exceeds approx. 280 V (ROW range) or 180 V (America and Japan range), the ampliﬁer will be switched off. The system will try to restart in intervals and will return with a soft start when the regular mains voltage returns.

7.2.3 Mains Surge Overvoltage Protection

The Q-POWER 14 is ﬁtted with a varistor unit, protecting the SMPS from sporadic surge overvoltages coming from the mains distribution.

7.2.4 Mains Failure Detection

Mains failure detection is always operative. When the mains supply is interrupted for more than 5 mains cycles, the ampliﬁer will be switched off. Shorter or equal dropouts will be ignored and the ampliﬁer will continue to deliver music out of the ampliﬁer’s internal capacitors (acting as enrergy reservoir). With this feature it’s possible to continue to deliver music at 1/8th output power during mains dropouts as long as 100 ms! In case the ampliﬁer has been switched off it will return with a soft start when the regular mains voltage returns.

7.2.5 Mains Overcurrent Limiter

The mains input current is continously monitored and will be limied to maximum values of 75 A

RMS

/ 106 A

Peak

(in ROW range) or 106 A

RMS

/ 150 A

Peak

(in America

and Japan range).

7.2.6 Over Current Protection

All internal SMPS currents are continuously monitored. If an overcurrent situation occurs, the main SMPS immediately stops working. Should there be an internal failure, this feature prevents other parts from being damaged.

7.2.7 Fuse / MCB Protection (FuseProtect™ Limiter)

When driving the Q-POWER 14 at very high output levels over a longer period of time (i.e. several seconds and minutes) the average mains current draw can become very high. In such situations, the FuseProtect™ limiter will reduce the output signal in order to prevent the external mains breaker from tripping. On the other hand, this limiter will not affect the output level for dynamic music signals, thus still guaranteeing the full available peak output power. Please note that the FuseProtect™ limiter only controls the average mains input current, not the short term peak input current. This means that with very dynamic music signals the (short term) input current can still reach very high levels, which can be very demanding for a mains distribution.