SP Controls AmpLINC User Manual

20

www.spcontrols.com

SP Controls

930 Linden Ave.

South San Francisco, CA 94080

Phone: [phone]

AmpLINC™ System

Owner’s Manual

spcontrols.com

July 2012

2

Important Safety Instructions

Before using your SP Controls AmpLINC System, please read this
Owner’s Manual carefully to ensure optimum trouble-free per­formance.

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE

THIS AMPLIFIER TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. DANGEROUS HIGH VOLTAGES ARE

PRESENT INSIDE THE ENCLOSURE. DO NOT OPEN THE CABINET. REFER SER-

VICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY.

The lighting bolt within arrowhead symbol, within
an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user
to the presence of un-insulated “dangerous volt-

age” within the product’s enclosure that may be

of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of elec­trical shock to person.

The exclamation point within an equilateral trian­gle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of
important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instruction in the literature accompanying the ap­pliance.

Important Safety Instruction – Please Read Prior to Product
Installation.

1. Installation should be performed by a trained and licensed profes­sional to insure safe and lasting operation.

2. All of the safety and operating instructions should be read before
the amplifier is installed or operated. Retain these instructions for
future reference. All instructions should be followed; all warnings on

19

8 Accessories

At the time of this printing, the AmpLINC

System accessories were still under

development

To view the AmpLINC System accessories or to

see the full SP Controls product lineup,

visit us at:

http://spcontrols.com

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7.2.3 Packaging Instructions (cont.)

1. Please write the RMA number on three sides of the box. In­clude the SP Controls RMA number inside the box and a brief
description of the problem.

2. Do not ship any accessories (manuals, cords, hardware, etc.)
with your unit. These items are not needed to service your
product. SP Controls will not be held responsible for these
items if they are returned with the amplifiers.

3. When shipping your amplifier, it is important that it has ade­quate protection. We recommend you use the original
packing material when returning the product for repair. If
you do not have the original box, see number 4.

4. If you provide your own shipping pack, the minimum recom­mended requirements for materials are as follows:

a. 275 P.S.I. burst test, Double-Wall carton that allows for

2-inch solid Styrofoam on all six sides of unit or 3 inches
of plastic bubble wrap on all six sides of unit.

b. Securely seal the package with an adequate carton

sealing tape.

c. Do not use light boxes or “peanuts”.

NOTE: Damage caused by poor packaging will not be cov­ered under warranty.

3

3. The amplifier should be situated so that its location and position
does not interfere with its proper ventilation. For example, the ampli­fier must not be placed on a rug, bed, sofa or similar surface that
impedes airflow across the chassis. Airflow through the ventilation
openings should be unobstructed.

4. This amplifier should not be used near water, for example, near a
bathtub, in a wet basement, near a swimming pool, etc. This ampli­fier is intended to be operated in a controlled indoor environment.

5. Do not place the amplifier near heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other appliances that produce heat.

6. The 24 Volt DC power supply that is supplied with the AmpLINC Sys­tem may be connected to 120 to 240 VAC, 50-60 Hertz. Do not de­feat the ground or polarization of the power plug.

7. Route power cord and other cables so that they are not likely to be
walked on, tripped over or stressed. Pay particular attention to con­dition of cords and cables at plugs and at the point where they exit
the amplifier. To prevent risk of fire or injury, damaged cords and
cables should be replaced immediately.

8. Clean the amplifier with a clean, damp cloth. Do not use solvents or
abrasive cleaners. Never pour any liquid on the amplifier.

9. When left unused for a long period of time, the power cord should
be unplugged form the outlet.

10. Damaged Amplifiers requiring service should be repaired by a
qualified service technician when:

a. The power cord or AC plug has been damaged.
b. Objects have fallen, or liquid has spilled into the unit.
c. The amplifier has been exposed to rain or other mois-

ture.

d. The amplifier does not appear to operate normally or

exhibits a marked change in performance.
e. The amplifier has been dropped or the enclosure
damaged.

11. The user should not attempt to service the amplifier beyond that
described in the operating instructions. All other servicing should be
referred to qualified service personnel.

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Table of Contents

Important Safety Instructions ················································ 2

Table of Contents ······························································· 4

1 Welcome ········································································ 5

2 System Overview ···························································· 6

3 System Installation ··························································· 8

4 Operation ·······································································12

5 Troubleshooting ······························································14

6 Technical Specifications ··················································15

7 Warranty Statement ·······················································16

8 Accessories ··································································16

17

7.2.1 Return Authorization Number

All returns to the factory for service must be accompanied by a
Return Manufacturer Authorization (RMA) number. One can be
obtained by contacting SP Controls at [phone] or via email
at:
[e-mail]

NOTE: Any defective products received without an RA number
will be returned to sender at their expense.

If SP Controls is unable to contact the sender within 14 days, the
merchandise will be considered scrap and may be disposed of.

7.2.2 Shipment Instructions

If SP Controls requests that you ship the defective product back
to their service center, please refer to the guide below. To ensure
prompt warranty service, be sure to follow all instructions.

1. RMA number is required for product being sent to the factory
for service.

2. See packing instructions in section 7.2.3.

3. Ship the defective product using a method which provides
for order tracking or order confirmation. The service center is
located at the following address:

SP Controls

930 Linden Ave.

South San Francisco, CA 94080

4. Use a bold black marker and write the RMA number on three
sides of the box.

5. Record the RMA number for future reference. The RMA num­ber can be used to check the repair or replacement status.

7.2.3 Packaging Instructions

Should SP Controls request that you ship your product to their ser­vice center, these instructions must be followed in order to ensure
safe delivery. If they are not followed, SP Controls assumes no re­sponsibility for damaged goods and/or accessories that are sent
with your unit.

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7 Warranty Information

6.1 Warranty Summary

All SP Controls amplifiers and accessories, unless excluded in this
summary, are covered by a 3-year limited warranty on parts and
labor from the date of purchase. In order to be eligible for war­ranty repairs, the amplifiers and accessories must have been pur­chased through an authorized SP Controls dealer and submitted
by the original purchaser. This warranty is only valid in the country
in which the amplifier was purchased.

7.1.1 Eligibility Requirements.

SP Controls warrants against all malfunctions which come as a
result of component or manufacturer defect. The amplifier is also
covered from all failures which arise during the warranty period (3
years from date of purchase) that are not a result of misuse. The
following actions will void your warranty:

 The power cord or AC plug has been damaged through

misuse.

 The amplifier has been exposed to moisture or extreme tem-

peratures.

 The amplifier has been dropped, items have been dropped

on the amplifier, or the enclosure has been damaged.

 The amplifier has been opened by the operator.
 The amplifier was improperly packaged when sending to

the factory for repair, resulting in damage.

 Any of the precautions or instructions found in this manual

were not followed.

Damages resulting to the amplifier which are not covered under
this warranty can be factory-repaired at cost to the customer.
Use the contact information below to initiate the repair process.

7.2 Return Procedure

This section includes the return procedures which must be fol­lowed in order to prevent processing delay or cost to the cus-

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1 Welcome

Congratulations on the purchase of your new SP Controls Am­pLINC System. If after reading this manual you should have any
questions concerning amplifier installation and operation, please
contact your Authorized SP Controls dealer, or you may contact
us directly using the contact information provided on the back of
this manual.

1.1 Features

Your AmpLINC System is the result of years of experience in the
design and manufacture of quality electronics. As such it pro­vides a combination of performance and operational benefits
that simply cannot be found in conventional amplifiers.

 Distributes audio and power over Cat5 cables

 Compact hub and subcompact nodes

 Nodes have selectable wattage and channels

 Efficient Class D microamplifier inside every node

 Clean full–range dynamic power

 Signal Sense Technology for Energy Star Compliance

 Easy to install distributed audio solution

 External inline power supply

1.2 Using this Manual

In order to obtain maximum performance from your AmpLINC

System, please take time to read this brief owner’s manual and

carefully follow the guidelines for connection and operation.

This manual provides you with the information necessary to safely
install and operate your new AmpLINC System in the most com­mon scenarios. If you find yourself requiring additional assistance,
please feel free to contact your Authorized Dealer, or you may
contact us directly using the information provided on the back of

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2 System Overview

The AmpLINC System by SP Controls consists of two key compo­nents: the AmpLINC Hub and the AmpLINC Puck. Other compo­nents such as Cat5 cable and speakers play a role in the system,
but will not be the focus of this manual.

2.1 System Components & Dimensions

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6 Technical Specifications

SP Controls reserves the right to change features and specifications without
notice.

Maximum Output 20Hz - 20kHz

Output per node 10W @ 8Ω

Hub’s Total Output Wattage of power supply

Frequency Response (+0, -3 dB)

20Hz-20kHz

THD+N

<0.1% at 1W

Signal to noise ratio

>100dB

Standard Voltage Gain

Adjustable 20-36dB

Input Impedance (Unbalanced)

9-60kΩ (Depending on gain)

Sleep, Idle (No Nodes)

0.005/0.016A

Class

D

Input Connectors

3.5mm Stereo, Dual RCA

Output Connectors

RJ-45 (Hub), Bare wire (Puck)

Power Supply

External In-Line 24VDC

Cooling

Convection-Cooling

Controls

Master Volume (Hub), Gain
and Channel Select (Puck)

LED Indicators

Power & Signal Present

Construction

Aluminum Chassis (Hub), ABS
Plastic (Puck)

Dimensions

Height 1.25in (3.2cm)

Width 4.35in (11.1cm)

Depth 3.2in (8.1cm)

Weight 0.37bs (0.16kg)

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5 Troubleshooting

Problem: Hub’s Power indicator does not turn on.

Procedure: Check that the Hub is plugged into a live outlet. After

you have ensured that it is not a power issue, check that you
have a hot signal going into the inputs. If a signal is not detected,
the hub will go into a sleep mode after 5 minutes to comply with
Energy Star.

Problem: AmpLINC Puck’s power indicator does not turn on.

Procedure: First check to make sure that the power indicator is lit

on the Hub, if not then see the corresponding Troubleshooting
entry. If this does not resolve the issue, then double-check the
Cat5 cable going from the Hub to the amplifier Puck. Replace
this cable if possible. If this is not the issue, then ensure that you
are not stringing too many Pucks on one line. Refer to section

3.2.2 for more information on this.

Problem: AmpLINC Puck is outputting no audio.

Procedure: First check that the signal indicator on the Hub is lit

and the volume control is at a reasonable level on the hub. Next,
to rule out a cabling issue, check that the power indicator is lit on
the amplifier node. If this does not resolve the issue then refer to
section 3.2.2 to ensure that the DIP switches are correctly config­ured on the node. If all of the channel selection switches are in

the “up” position, then this is most likely the issue. Refer to section

3.2.2 for the proper settings.

Problem: AmpLINC Puck is outputting weak audio.

Procedure: First check the Level knob on the Hub to make sure it

is at a reasonable level. Next, check the DIP switches on the front
of the Puck to see what the gain is set at. If both switches are in

the “up” position and you still have a weak output, check to

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2.2 Example System Setup

8

3 System Installation

CAUTION: Before installing your system, make sure that
you have read the Important Safety Precautions at the
beginning of this manual.

3.1. Hub Installation

The AmpLINC Hub is a UL 2043 plenum-rated unit which can be
safely installed in the plenum space. SP Controls recommends
that the unit is secured in some fashion to prevent movement of
the unit if one of the cables is pulled during installation of an am­plifier node.

For full UL 2043 (Plenum) compliance, the external power supply
should be placed in an area other than a plenum space.

3.1.1 Input Connections

The AmpLINC Hub accepts an unbalanced stereo input using
either RCA or 3.5mm plugs. The standard wiring is shown below.

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4.2.2 Indicators and Controls on AmpLINC Puck

Each AmpLINC Puck has an amber LED on top which will illumi­nate when power is supplied to the from the Hub.

Note - When the AmpLINC Hub is in sleep mode, the amber LED
indicators on the top of the Pucks will turn off.

To control the wattage of the amplifier Puck, refer to section

3.2.2.

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4 Operation

4.1 Operating Precautions

1. Before use, your amplifier must be configured for proper op­eration, including input and output wiring hookup. Improper
wiring can result in damage to equipment or potentially harm
to the operator. Consult section 3 for setup instructions.

2. Tampering with the circuitry, or making unauthorized changes
is not only dangerous but may also violate local regulations.

3. Use care when making connections between the amplifier
and the input or output equipment. Using equipment that is
not capable of handling the output wattage may lead to
permanent damage.

NOTE: SP Controls will not be held responsible for dam-

age to your AmpLINC System or connected equipment
if the instructions in this manual are not followed.

4.2 Indicators and Controls

4.2.1 Indicators and Controls on AmpLINC Hub

The AmpLINC Hub accepts all inputs and power and sends it
down Cat5 cable to the AmpLINC Pucks. All power and system
volume can be controlled on the Hub.

Two LED indicators on the left-hand side of the AmpLINC Hub will
illuminate when power is supplied (Power LED - blue) and when
signal is detected on either input (Sig LED - green). If the nodes
are not outputting any audio, first check to make sure that both
of these LEDs are illuminated.

Note - When the AmpLINC Hub goes into sleep mode due to no
signal, the LED will turn OFF. To turn the AmpLINC Hub back on,
make sure that signal is being sent to the Hub.

The system volume can be set using the recessed knob on the left

-hand side of the unit. To turn this, insert a small screwdriver into

the slot and turn clockwise to turn the volume up.

9

3.1.2 Output Connections

The AmpLINC Hub utilizes standard Cat5 cable to send both sig­nal and power to the nodes connected to its ports. Regular Cat5
patch cables may be used, purchased in standard lengths or cut
and crimped for the installation. If making your own cables, stan­dard A or B patch cable wiring can be used or straight through
connections between pin 1-8 to pin 1-8 on either end. Crossover

cables or wiring cannot be used.

Each port is capable of outputting a maximum of 20 total watts
of power to the nodes daisy chained on that port.

CAUTION: Do not connect the Hub or Pucks to any other
devices (such as a network router or switch). They are not
Ethernet capable and will damage other devices.

The total power output of the AmpLINC Hub is limited by the
power rating of the power supply which was purchased with the
system, and cannot exceed 80 Watts.

Each AmpLINC Hub port is capable of outputting a maximum of
20 watts of speaker power. This 20 watts is available for the Am­pLINC Puck and speakers daisy chained to the port.

If you would like to upgrade the chosen power supply, please
contact your local sales rep for details.

3.2 Node Installation

Each AmpLINC Puck contains a single channel micro amplifier
capable of delivering up to 10 watts of power to a single
speaker.

If you have the SP-IC4 or SP-IC5 speakers as a part of your Am­pLINC System, the Puck can be secured to the top of the
speaker. To secure the amplifier node, place the node on top of
the speaker inserting the screws on the top of the speaker into
the notches on the rear of the amplifier. Twist the node clockwise
and it will lock into place.

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3.2.1 Node Input Connections

The AmpLINC system utilizes Cat5 to send power as well as a ste­reo signal to each node on the line. For the initial connection be­tween the AmpLINC Hub and an AmpLINC Puck, a Cat5 cable
should connect any port on the Hub with either the left or right
port of the node. The remaining port of the node can be used to
daisy chain it to another node.

Caution: Do not connect the final Puck in a line back to
the AmpLINC Hub. Doing so may damage the Hub.

3.2.2 AmpLINC Puck Configuration

The Pucks are configured on an individual basis using the DIP
switches located on the front of the node. This can be done with
a small screwdriver or other tool that will fit into the recessed
switches. The configuration options are found printed on the top
of the Puck below.

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Gain Configuration

The gain level on the Puck is adjustable from 0.3W to 10W using
the DIP switches on the front of the unit. Using the table printed
on the top of the node or provided for you on the left, adjust the
first 2 DIP switches to the desired setting.

Note: Each port from the hub is capable of supplying 20W
each. This means that the higher the gain setting, the
fewer units you can daisy chain. Refer to the table below.

Channel Configuration

When the signal is sent down the Cat5 cable from the Hub to the
Pucks, both the left and right channels are sent. This means that
each AmpLINC Puck can be configured to output the left chan­nel, right channel, or a mono summation. The last 4 switches of
the DIP switch are for selecting the channel.

Refer to the image in section 3.2.2 or the silkscreen of the ampli­fier node for switch configurations.

Note: Each port from the Hub is capable of supplying up
to 20W each. This means that the higher the gain setting,
the fewer units you can daisy chain. Refer to the table be­low.

Selected Wattage # of Units/Port

10W 2

4.5W 4

1.0W 15*

0.3W 50*

*Number reduced to account for power loss over ca-

ble