Fusion FM-504 - Manual (Page 4)

PUBLISHED BY FUSION ELECTRONICS LIMITED:
© Copyright 2008 by FUSION Electronics Limited.
All rights reserved. Specifications and design are subject to change
without notice.
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INST
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CONNECTION
Installation
Mounting
Appropriate mounting is very important for the prolonged life expectancy of any amplifier. Select a location that allows enough
space so sufficient airflow is maintainable and a location that provides protection from moisture. Keep in mind that an amplifier
should never be mounted upside down. Upside down mounting will compromise heat dissipation through the heatsink and
could engage the thermal protection circuit. Excessive heat will shorten your amplifiers life. To maximise heat dissipation, be
sure to leave at least 2.5” of clearance around the amplifier. If space is of the essense and the amplifier must be mounted in
an enclosed or restricted area, a small 3 inch fan should be used in correspondence with a duct so the heat can flow past the
FUTRANZ Heatsink. Try to avoid mounting any amplifier on a subwoofer enclosure, as extended exposure to vibration may cause
malfunction of the amplifier.
To avoid scratching your new FUSION amplifier, pre-drill the mounting holes with either a 3mm or 9/64” diameter drill bit and use
the screws supplied in the accessory kit. Be sure to investigate your mounting area thoroughly to avoid electrical wires, vacuum
lines and brake or fuel lines.
Installation Options
The quality of installation will affect the performance and reliability of your FUSION amplifier. For maximum performance we
recommend you have your new FUSION amplifier installed by an authorised FUSION dealer. Our highly skilled dealers have vast
knowledge of our products and their installation techniques are necessary to unleash the high performance capabilities of your
amplifier.
If you decide to connect the amplifier yourself, it is important that you read this manual carefully and throughout before start-
ing. Once you have finished reading and you still have questions regarding installation, we recommend your FUSION dealer.
Connection
FUSION amplifiers are designed to work within a 10 to 16 volt DC range. Before any wires are connected, the vessel’s electrical
system should be checked for correct voltage supply with the help of a voltmeter. First, check the voltage at the battery with the
ignition in the OFF position. The voltmeter should read between 12 and 13.8 Volts. If your vehicle’s electrical system is not up to
these specification, we recommend having it checked by an auto electrician before any further installation. Once the vessel is
checked, make certain the correct cable size is used. We recommend using the following cables calculator diagram on page 8 to
calculate the correct power cable for your application.
Power
FUSION amplifiers should be wired directly to the battery using the appropriate sized cable. Start at the vehicle battery and run
the power cable through to the amplifier. FUSION recommends the use of grommets when passing the power cable through any
metal wall to avoid sharp corners or sharp body parts that may easily cut through the insulation on the cable.
Avoid running the power cable over engine components and near heater cores. The use of an inline fuse or circuit breaker is
a must, this will prevent the risk of a potential fire caused be a short in your power cable. Connect the fuse holder or circuit
breaker as close to the battery positive terminal as possible. Use a fuse or circuit breaker of equal value as that found on the
chassis of your FUSION amplifier. You may now connect the cable to the battery, but remember to leave the fuse out or circuit
breaker off until all other cable connections are made.
Ground
When grounding your FUSION amplifier, locate a metal area close to the amplifier that is a good source of ground. Once again,
investigate the area you wish to use for electrical wires, vacuum lines, and brake or fuel lines. Use either a wire brush or sand-
paper to eliminate unwanted paint. This will supply a better contact for your ground. Use the same gauge cable for ground as
you did for the power. Secure the ground cable to the appropriate ground point using a bolt, star washer and nut. Spread silicon
over the screw and bare metal to prevent rust. Now its time to connect the power and ground cables to the amplifier. Cut both
cables to length. Crimp the yellow spade connectors supplied to the power and ground. Use a hex type screwdriver to loosen the
+12V and the GND connections on the amplifier. Terminate the ground first, and then the +12V and please make sure that you
terminate them into the correct terminals. Then tighten the screws down securely.
Speaker Load
Keep in mind FUSION ‘FM’ series amplifiers are high power amplifiers and not high current amplifiers. In other words they require
a minimum impedance of 2 ohms STEREO and 4 ohms bridged MONO to operate trouble free. Too low of an impedance could send
your FUSION amplifier into protection mode and/or damage the amplifier.
Remote Turn-on
This terminal must be connected to a switched +12V source. Typically, remote turn-on leads are provided at the head unit which
will turn on and off the amplifier in correspondence with the source. If the head unit does not have a remote turn-on lead, then
a power antenna wire can be used. If neither of these leads are present on the head unit then a switched +12V supply must be
used , like the ACC +12V.
Run a minimum of 18 gauge wire from the amplifier location to the source of the switched +12V lead. If possible, route this wire
on the same side of the vehicle as your power cable. Connect the source remote output to the wire. Go back to the amplifier and
cut the wire to length. Loosen the screw terminal marked REM on the amplifier using a hex type screwdriver. Slip the wire into
the connector and tighten the screw securely.
Speaker Wiring
Choose the correct speaker wire for your application. Most application will require a minimum of 16 gauge. Route these using the
same precautions as you did when you ran the power cables. Terminate these wires at the speaker end using insulated speaker
terminals (not supplied) or by soldering the connection. Make sure the speaker connections are positive to positive and negative
to negative. At the amplifier end, use a #2 Phillips screwdriver to loosen the speaker terminals on the amplifier. Connect the
speaker wires and tighten the screws securely. Check to make sure you’ve maintained proper polarity and balance.
Inputs & Gain Setup
Low Level Inputs
Be extra careful with your RCA interconnects. Hiss, engine noise, and fan noise can easily be picked up through RCA cables if run
incorrectly. Avoid running your RCAs near large wire looms and electric fans if possible. Run your RCA cables on the opposite side
of the power cable. Be sure to check for correct balance (Red is right and black or white is left)
Level Control
On the amplifier, is the LEVEL control, this control allows you to match the input level of the amplifier to the output level of your
head unit. Matching the input can be accomplished in three simple steps:
1. Turn the LEVEL control on the amplifier to minimum.
2. Turn up the head unit and adjust to 2/3 maximum volume ensuring that the BASS and TREBLE are set to zero.
3. Adjust the LEVEL control until the desired volume is achieved without audible distortion.
Remember, the gain control is not a volume control. Ignoring the three steps above may leave you with damaged speakers and/
or a damaged amplifier.