Carver PM 1200 Owners Manual

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IM-1200

Magnetic Field Power Amplifier
Owners Manual

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PM-1200

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Table of Contents

1.

PN

>19.

Introduction ......................................
About this manual
Notation Conventions .......................
Special Features ...............................
Front and Rear Panel Features .
Front Panel ......................
Rear Panel ..............................
Installation .............................
Mechanical considerations ..
'lhennal Considerations ......
AC Power Considerations ........................
I/O Wiring ...................................
Output Connector wiring .
Ground Lift Strap .....
Switch Settings .....
Bridging Operation
Clipping Eliminator ..
Power Sequencer ......
Using the IM-1200 ..
70V Distribution Systems
Technical Information ..
In Case of Difficulty
Warranty Information.
Obtaining a Service Manua ..
Factory Address ................................................ 12

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1. Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your professional
PM-lZOO Amplifier. It represents the latest technology
in Carver's patented Magnetic Field Power Supply.
This efficient supply coupled with a unique amplifier
design provide you with the very best in performance.
Because of the specially designed protection systems.
you can be assured your valuable speakers and amplifier
will be protected.

Its lightweight and nigged construction makes it ideal
for touring and permanent installations. We are proud
of our track record for excellent performance and
proven reliability. The high quality standards Carver
products provide is the quality that our customers have
come to expect.

mam

Bob Carver

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Clipping Biminator

In addition to sounding bad, clipped waveforms kill
loudspeakers. This fact of life is made more true by the
practice of using large amplifiers for increased head
room. When an amplifier clips, the output waveform
contains large amounts of harmonics which extend both
above and below the fundamental frequency. This can
be potentially destructive to any high-frequency driver.

The clipping eliminator works by sensing amplifier
clipping and reducing the input signal level to limit the
distortion in the output signal to less than one percent
THD with up to 8 dB of overdrive. The action is similar
to that of a limiter: The clipping eliminator is sensitive
to clipping, regardless of cause: excessive input drive,
power line sag, lower load impedances, etc.

Protection Circuitry

The PM-l 200 has specially designed protection
circuitry that protects the amplifier from abnormal load
conditions, as well as protecting the load from an
abnormal amplifier. The amplifier includes the follow-
ing protective measures:

Input RFI filtering.

Power line filtering.

Load protection from excessive low-frequency
or DC output.

Amplifier protection from sustained current
limiting caused by severe overdrive or abnor
mally low load impedances.

Thermal overload protection. Activated when
the amplifier chassis reaches 90 degrees

Centigrade.

The red protect LED indicator on the front panel is
illuminated when any of the protection circuits are
activated. The two top yellow clipping LEDs on the
"ladder " display light when the amplifier clips, or when
the clipping-eliminator circuit is activated.

Specifications
Power Output, FTC, 20-20kHz, 0.1% THD:

16 ohms. both ch driven 300

8 ohms, both ch driven 450

4 ohms. both ch driven 600

8 ohms mono bridge 1200W

16 ohms mono bridge 1000W
Frequency Bandwidth:

-3, +0 dB, 3Hz-80kHz

PM-1200

IM Distortion (SMPTE):
Less than 0.1%
Gain:
32 dB
Input Sensitivity (full output):
1.5V RMS
Input Impedance:
30 Kilohms balanced, 15 Kilohms unbalanced
Input Overload:
+19 dBu
Slew Rate:
25 V/uSec
Damping Factor:
200 @ 1 KHz
Output Noise (A weighted):
-l 15 dB, ref 450W output, A-weighted
Inputs (balanced, difl'erential):
XLR, 1/4 inch tip-ring-sleeve
Power-up sequencing:
Barrier strip,
Receive accepts +5 to +15V to signal
power on;
Send provides delayed +1 1.4V output to signal on
next unit
Output:
5-way binding posts
Dimensions (HWD inches):
3.5 x 19 x1019, 2U rack space
Weight:
21 pounds
Power Requirements:
120 V, 60 Hz, 12A. 1500 Watts
230 V, 50 Hz. 6.25A. 1500 Watts

Note
Carver Corporation reserves the right to improve its

products at any time. Therefore, specifications are
subject to change without notice.

Page 13

6. In Case of Diffictu

If the PM- 1200 fails to operate, here is a checklist of
things to check before contacting an Authorized Carver
Service Center (or the factory).

No lights, no sound

I Is the amplifier plugged in?

I Is the outlet live?

I Is the fuse okay?

I Is the power switch set to ON?

Low Output or No Output

I Are the input LEVEL controls set to their normal
settings?

I Move the input connections to another amplifier
that you know is working to verify that it is not a source
problem.

/ Check the speaker connections. Be sure that there
are no small strands of wire touching similar strands
coming from the other wire in the cable. If you use
banana plugs, be sure that the setscrew in the plug is
securely tightened.

/ Are the speakers okay?

J If you are using bridged~mono mode, have you
depressed the bridged'mono switch?

it Is the power line voltage dropping excessively when
the amplifier is driven hard? Use a voltmeter to find
out.

7. Warranty Information

Note:

I» fill out and mail the WARRANTY REGISTRA-
TION CARD which is enclosed in a separate enve-
lope with the CARVER LIMITED WARRANTY.

If your CARVER product should require service, we
suggest you contact the Dealer from whom you pur-
chased your unit. Should the Dealer be unable to take
care of your needs, you may contact CARVER Service
Department by phoning (206) 775-6245, or by writing
to us at die Factory address given below. We will then
direct you to one of our National network of factory
trained and authorized Warranty Service Centers, or
give you detailed instructions on returning the product
to us for prompt appropriate action.

We suggest you read the LIMITED WARRANTY
completely to fully understand what your warranty/
service coverage is, and the duration You must
promptly complete and return the WARRANTY
REGISTRATION CARD to validate your LIMITED
WARRANTY.

If you should have questions or comments, please
write to the Factory address given below. Please
include the model and serial number of your Carver
product, your complete address, and a daytime phone
number.

Service Manual

A Service Manual including full schematics is
available from the Carver Service Department.

Factory Address

Carver Corporation

Service Department

R0. Box 1237

Lynnwood Washington, 98046
(206) 775-6245

©1990 Carver Corporation. All Rights Reserved
Version 1.1