Constellation Audio Hercules II - Manual (Page 4)

4
Before you install the amplifier
Unpacking
At more than 200 pounds each, the Hercules II amplifier is too heavy for one person to lift safely. Four strong
people are required to lift each amplifier and to move it from place to place.
Likewise, do not place this amplifier on surfaces that cannot safely support their weight. Lightweight furniture
and equipment racks should not be used to support these amplifiers.
Lift the amplifier by hooking your fingers under the side edges, as indicated by the arrows in the photos at
right. It’s a good idea to wear soft gloves to protect your fingers and help avoid fingerprints on the amplifier.
AC connection
Each Hercules II should be plugged into its own dedicated 20-amp AC outlet,
with no other component but the Hercules II connected to that AC circuit. In
the U.S., all 20-amp AC outlets have a T-shaped hole next to an I-shaped hole,
as shown in the photo.
Confirm at your home’s electrical box that the outlet you use to power the
Hercules is connected to a 20-amp circuit breaker. A 15-amp breaker will trip
often due to the Hercules’ high current demands.
Do not use a “cheater” cord to plug the Hercules II into a 15-amp AC socket—
you will significantly reduce the amplifier’s maximum power output. Also, do
not plug two Hercules amplifiers into the same 20-amp AC socket or into the
same AC circuit. If you do, each amp will get only half the AC current it needs
for maximum performance, and you will probably trip your home’s circuit
breaker often. Each amplifier should be connected to its own 20-amp circuit
with its own circuit breaker at the electrical box.
Do not plug the Hercules II into a power strip or AC line conditioner—few such units are designed to handle
the current that the Hercules II can pull.
When you connect or disconnect the AC cord, always grasp it by the plug, not by the cord itself. Pulling the
plug out by the cord can damage the cord, the AC socket, and/or the Hercules.