Cerwin Vega XL 150.2, XL 300.2, XL 300.4 Owners Manual

Operation and Installation Manual

CERWIN-VEGA!
MOBILE AUDIO

POWER AMPLIFIER

XL 150.2
XL 300.2
XL 300.4

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CERWIN-VEGA! XL150.2 | XL300.2 | XL300.4 POWER SYSTEM AMPLIFIERS

This section lists Mounting and Wiring
Precautions for installing Cerwin-Vega! XL Series
amplifiers. Combined with the experience of a
professional installer, these safeguards provide
enough detail to successfully complete an
installation. If you do not have the necessary
skills, do not install the amplifier yourself.
Instead, see your authorized Cerwin-Vega! dealer
for installation recommendations.

MOUNTING PRECAUTIONS

Although Cerwin-Vega! EXL Series amplifiers
incorporate heat sinks and protection circuits,
mounting the amplifier in a tight space without any
air movement can still damage internal circuitry
over time. Choose a site that provides adequate
ventilation around the amplifier. For easy system
set-up, mount the amplifier so the front panel
controls will be accessible after installation. In
addition, observe the following precautions:

1. For the most efficient cooling, mount the
amplifier so cool air runs along the length of
the fins rather than across them. Remember,
any moving air will dissipate heat.

2. Mount the amplifier on a rigid surface.Avoid
mounting to subwoofer enclosures or areas
prone to vibration. Do not install the
amplifier on plastic or other combustible
materials.

3. Prior to drilling, make sure proposed
mounting holes will not cut into the fuel
tank, fuel lines,brake lines (under chassis) or
electrical wiring.

WIRING PRECAUTIONS

Read all wiring precautions. If you are not sure of
the connections, contact your authorized Cerwin­Vega! dealer.

1. Before installation, make sure the source

unit Power switch is in the OFF position.

2. Disconnect the negative (-) lead of the battery

before making any power connections.

3. When making connections, be sure that

each connection is clean and secure.
Insulate final connections with electrical

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing a Cerwin-Vega! car
audio amplifier. This power amplifier has been
designed to provide high quality performance
with a minimum of maintenance. However, it’s
performance will only be as good as the care
and quality of components with which it is
installed. We therefore advise that you read
these instructions very carefully to familiarize
yourself with the product and it’s features.

Before installing the power amplifier please read
this instruction manual carefully. The instructions
for mounting and connecting the unit have to be
followed precisely. If necessary, a service center
should be consulted.

All connections for DC power, signal input and
speaker outputs can be carried out easily and
safely by way of RCA and screw terminals.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

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OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL

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•2 & 4 Channel power amplifier

•4 Ohm stable in bridge mode

•2 Ohm stable in stereo mode

• Low&High level input

• X-over control

• Crossover Switch

• Gain (input level) controls

• Bass boost control

•Thermal protection

• Short circuit protection

• Remote Turn-on

• Protection LED indicator

•Power on LED indicator

FEATURES

tape or shrink tubing. Failure to do so may
damage your equipment.

4. A secure clean ground connection is critical
to the performance of your Cerwin-Vega!
amplifier. Use the shortest ground wire
possible and securely connect to the car
chassis to minimize resistance and avoid
noise problems.

5. Add an external fuse on the amplifier’s
positive (+) power lead and connect it as
close as possible to the vehicle’s (+) battery

terminal. Use a rating that equals the total
current consumption at full output of all
amplifiers in the system. Adding an external
fuse will protect the electrical system from
short circuits that can cause a fire.

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CERWIN-VEGA! XL150.2 | XL300.2 | XL300.4 POWER SYSTEM AMPLIFIERS

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If the fuse blows, check the power connection and
replace the fuse. If the fuse blows again after
replacement, there may be an internal malfunction.
In this case, consult your dealer.

Warning

Use the specified amperage fuse. Use of a higher
amperage fuse may cause serious damage.

Protection Circuit

This amplifier is provided with a protection circuit
which operates when:

- the unit is overheated or when the speaker
terminals are short circuited.

•This unit is designed for negative ground 12V
DC operation only.

• Use speakers with an impedance of 2 or 4 Ohms

• Avoid installing the unit where:

- It would be subject to high temperatures, such as

from direct sunlight or hot air from the heater.

- It would be exposed to rain or moisture.

- It would be subject to dust or dirt.

• If your car is parked in direct sunlight and there
is a considerable rise in temperature inside the
car, allow the unit to cool off before operation.

• When installing the unit horizontally, be sure not
to cover the heatsink fins with the floor carpet.

• If this unit is placed too close to the car radio,
an interference may occur. In this case,
separate the amplifier from the car radio.

•This power amplifier employs a protection
circuit to protect the transistors and speakers if
the amplifier malfunctions. Do not attempt to
test the protection circuits by covering the
heatsink or connecting improper loads.

• Do not use the unit with a weak auto battery as
its optimum performance depends on a normal
battery supply voltage.

•For safety reasons, keep the volume of your car
audio system moderate so that you can still
hear normal traffic sounds outside your car.

PRECAUTIONS

FUSE REPLACEMENT

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OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL

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POWER CONNECTION

•The battery terminal (BATT) must be connected
directly to the positive terminal of the vehicle
battery to provide an adequate voltage source
and minimize noise. Connecting the battery
terminal lead to any other point (such as the
fuse block) will reduce the power output and
may cause noise and distortion. Use only #12
gauge or thicker (smaller gauge #) wire for this
lead and connect it to the terminal of the
battery after all other wiring is completed. This
connection must be fused at the battery
terminal.

GROUND CONNECTION

•The ground terminal (GND) connection is also
critical to the correct operation of the amplifier.
Use a wire of the same gauge as the power
connection (#12 or thicker) and connect it
between the ground terminal (GND) of the
amplifier and a metal part of the vehicle close
to the mounting location. This wire should be
as short as possible and any paint or rust at the
grounding point should be scraped away to
provide a clean metal surface to which the end
of the ground wire can be screwed or bolted.

REMOTE TURN-ON CONNECTION

•The amplifier is turned on by applying +12V to
the remote turn-on terminal (REM). The wire
lead to this terminal should be connected to
the “Auto-Antenna” lead from the car stereo
which will provide the +12V only when the car
stereo is turned on . If the car stereo does not
provide an “Auto-Antenna” lead, the remote
turn-on lead may be wired to an “Accessory”
or “Radio” terminal in the car’s fuse block.This
will turn the amplifier on and off with the
ignition key, regardless of whether the car

stereo is on or off. The remote turn-on lead
does not carry large currents. So #20 gauge
wire may be used for this application.

SPEAKER CONNECTIONS

• Depending on the type and number of speakers
used with the amplifier wire them to the
speaker terminals as per the appropriate wiring
diagram. For most applications # 18 gauge wire
should be used for the speaker leads but in no
case thinner than #20 gauge. For leads is excess
of 10 feet #16 gauge is recommended. When
wiring the speakers,pay careful attention to the
polarity of the terminals on the speakers and
make certain they correspond to the polarity of
the corresponding terminals on the amplifier.
Do not ground any speaker leads to the chassis
of the vehicle. Please see your authorized
Cerwin-Vega! dealer for specific wire
recommendations.

INPUT CONNECTIONS

•This amplifier features both and high low-level
input capability. Use either the low-level or
high- level inputs, not both.

• If the car stereo does not provide low-level
outputs, the amplifier may be connected via the
speaker (high-level). Outputs from the stereo.
Wire the speaker leads from the car stereo to
the 5-pin adapter harness as shown in the
diagram (shielded cables is not required for this
application) and plug the connector into the
mating high level input connector on the
amplifier. Carefully splice and insulate all wire
connection.

CAUTION: Use either the low-level or the high­level inputs on the amplifier. Do not use both
input levels at the same time.

WIRING INSTRUCTIONS

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