Ssl F2600D, F5000D, F3600D User Manual

USER’S MANUAL

F2600D

CLASS D MonoBlock
Car Audio Amplifiers

F3600D
F5000D

Congratulations on your
purchase of a Sound Storm
Laboratories FORCE Amplifier.

It has been designed, engineered
and manufactured to bring you
the highest level of performance
and quality, and will afford you
years of listening pleasure.

Thank you for making Sound
Storm Laboratories your choice
for car audio entertainment!

page

CONTENTS

2 Introduction

2 Features

3 What is included?

3 General precautions

3 Installation precautions

3 Mounting the amplifier

4 Connecting the amplifier

5 Important system considerations

5 Tips for a safe system

6 Low level input wiring

6 Speaker wiring

7 Power connections

Normal and with Stiffening Capacitor

9 Bridging two F2600D or
F3600D Amplifiers

11 Bridging two F5000D
Amplifiers

13 Troubleshooting

14 Specifications

F2600D • F3600D • F5000D Amplifier User’s Manual - page 1

Introduction

Features

With the Sound Storm Laboratories
FORCE F2600D, F3600D and F5000D
models, we are introducing three new
CLASS D amplifiers, all designed in
the USA.

These FORCE models feature variable
low pass and subsonic filters and a
variable input gain control. All three
models also incorporate a phase
selector switch to help compensate
for time delays in subwoofer
applications.

For further flexibility in the use of a
subwoofer, a variable 0-+18dB Bass
Boost control has been included.You
can control the subwoofer level with
the remote level control module.

Sound Storm Laboratories
understands that amplifiers are placed
in many different kinds of installations,
so we have also included an input
sensitivity control to help you integrate
the amp into your system regardless
of the nature of your input source.

A special feature on this Class D amp
is DataLink circuitry, which allows you
to “strap” together two F2600D’s, two
F3600D’s or two F5000D models for
an astounding total maximum output
power of 5200, 7200 or 10000 watts,
respectively.

Your new FORCE amplifier features
the following:

• Class D operation

• MOSFET PWM (Pulse Width
Modulated) Power Supply

• One Ohm stable mono operation

• Thermal, overload and speaker
short protection

• Soft turn-on circuit

• Remote turn-on/turn-off circuit

• Variable input gain control

• Input voltage sensitivity selector

• Variable subsonic filter: 15-40 Hz,
24/dB/octave

• Variable low pass filter: 50-150 Hz,
24/dB/octave

• Variable 0-+18dB Bass Boost

• 0/180º Phase Shift selector

• Nickel-plated RCA low level inputs

• Nickel-plated speaker and power
terminals

F2600D • F3600D • F5000D Amplifier User’s Manual - page 2

• LED power and protection
indicators

• Black anodized heatsink

• Remote subwoofer level control

What is included?

When first unpacking your new
amplifier, please check first that the
package contains all of the items
below. If something is missing, contact
the store where you purchased the
player.

• If there is smoke or any peculiar odor
present during use or if there is damage
to any of the component enclosures,
immediately unplug the power cord
and send the amplifier to your local
dealer or service center as soon as
possible .

• Class D amplifier

• Remote subwoofer level control

• Remote subwoofer control cable

• DataLink cable (for strapping two
identical Force Class D amps
together)

• Four (4) mounting screws

General precautions

Before installing and using your new
Sound Storm Laboratories amplifier,
please become familiar with all the
information contained in this manual.

Please keep this manual in a safe
place for future reference.

• Do not open or attempt to repair this
unit yourself. Dangerous high voltages
are present which may result in electric
shock. Refer any repairs to a qualified
service technician.

Installation precautions

Before you drill or cut any holes,
investigate your car's layout very
carefully. Take special care when you
work near the gas tank, fuel lines,
hydraulic lines and electrical wiring.

Never operate the amplifier when it is
unmounted. Attach all audio system
components securely to prevent
damage, especially in an accident.

Before making or breaking power
connections in your system, disconnect
the vehicle battery. Confirm that your
head unit or other equipment is turned
off while connecting the input jacks and
speaker terminals.

If you need to replace the power fuse,
replace it only with a fuse identical to
that supplied with the amplifier. Using
a fuse of a different type or rating may
result in damage to your audio system
or your amplifier which is not covered
by the manufacturer's warranty.

• To avoid risk of electronic shock or
damage to the amplifier, do not permit
any of this equipment to become damp
or wet from water or drinks. If this does
occur, immediately unplug the power
wires and send the amplifier to your
local dealer or service center as soon
as possible.

Mounting the amplifier

1. Find a suitable location in the vehicle
in which to mount the amplifier.

2. Make sure there is sufficient air
circulation around the intended
mounting location.

F2600D • F3600D • F5000D Amplifier User’s Manual - page 3

3. Mark the location for the mounting
hole screws by positioning the amplifier
where you wish to install it. Use a scribe
or mounting screw, inserted through
each of the amp's mounting holes, to
mark the mounting surface. If the
mounting surface is carpeted, measure
the hole centers and mark with a felt
tip pen.

4. Drill pilot holes in the mounting
surface for the mounting screws. Place
the amplifier in position, and attach
the amplifier to the mounting surface
securely using screws.

Connecting the amplifier

4. Check that the fuse holder is empty.
Then connect the fuse holder to the
"BATT+" connection on the amplifier.

5. If multiple amplifiers are being used
in your system, either:

• Run a separate pair of cables from
the battery and a chassis ground point
to each amplifier. Each (+) cable must
have its own inline fuse.

-or-

• Run a #4 cable from the fuse holder
at the battery to a distribution block
at or near the amplifier's location. Then
run separate cables from the amplifier
to this distribution block and to
independent chassis ground points.

Before doing any wiring, look through
this manual and identify the diagrams
to follow for power, input and speaker
connections for your particular
installation. Be sure you understand
all the connections before you proceed.

1. Connect the amplifier’s power
ground terminal to the closest point
on the chassis of the car. Keep this
ground wire to less than 39" (100 cm)
in length. Use 4 gauge (or heavier)
wire.

2. Connect the remote terminal to the
remote output of the head unit using
16 gauge (or heavier) wire.

3. Connect an empty fuse holder within
18" (45 cm) of the car battery, and run
4 gauge (or heavier) cable from this
fuse to the amplifier location.

The purpose of placing a fuse in this
location is to protect your vehicle’s
battery in the event that this wire
accidentally touches the chassis
ground on its run to the amplifier.

6. Connect all line inputs and outputs
(if used) using high-quality cables.
Connect all speakers, following the
diagrams in this manual. Be sure to
observe proper polarity to avoid audio
phase problems.

7. Insert fuse(s) into the battery fuse
holder(s).

8. Recheck all connections before
powering up the amplifier.

9. Set all level controls to minimum
position, and set all crossover
controls/switches to the desired
frequency points.

10. Power up the head unit and the
amplifier. Then set the volume control
on the head unit to about 3/4 volume,
and adjust the amplifier’s input level
control(s) to just below the level of
distortion.

11. Further fine tuning of the various
controls may be necessary to obtain
best results.

F2600D • F3600D • F5000D Amplifier User’s Manual - page 4

Important installation
considerations for using
this amplifier.

Your Force Class D amplifier
is designed to run with a min­imum load of 1 Ohm.

Operating the F2600D, F3600D
or F5000D with a speaker im­pedance load below 1 Ohm
may result in poor sound qual­ity and damage to the amplifier
circuitry. Such damage is not
covered under the warranty
for this product.

The fuse rating for the amp is 50A
(using two 25A fuses) for the F2600D
and 90A (using three 30A fuses) for
the F3600D. The F5000D’s fuse rating
is 175A (using a single inline ANL type
fuse – fuse and holder are included).
Although sufficient for normal working
conditions, overloading the amp may
result in blown fuses. Please try to
avoid overloading the amp in this
manner.

Don't misuse the
level control!

Do not mistake the input level control
for a volume control! It is designed
ONLY to match the output level of
your audio source to the input level
of your amplifier.

Do not adjust this input level to
maximum unless your input level
requires it.

Tips for making your system
as save as possible

When making electrical connections
to the amplifier, please observe the
following:

• Always use 4GA or heavier wire for
power and ground connections.

• Wire the amplifier directly to the car
battery. Make sure there is circuit
protection (such as a fuse) on the
positive power lead within 18” of the
battery.

• When making a ground connection,
always use the shortest possible wire
to a good chassis ground point.

• Wire the remote turn-on connection
to the remote turn-on lead of your EQ
or head unit. In some cases, this may
be the power antenna lead of the head
unit.

• Fuses protect BOTH the amplifier
and the electrical system of your
vehicle from faulty conditions. If you
must replace a fuse on the amplifier,
you must use a fuse of exactly the
same type and rating. A different type
of fuse or rating may result in damage
or cause a fire.

SHOCK HAZARD! Do not open the case
of this product. There are dangerous

voltages present within the unit. There are
no user-serviceable parts within the unit.

Ignoring these instructions will result
in an input overload to the amplifier,
and excessive audio distortion. It
can also cause the protection circuit
to engage.

F2600D • F3600D • F5000D Amplifier User’s Manual - page 5