Rack Mounting Instructions - SWR 350x Operating Instructions Manual

RACK MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS

To preserve the beauty and reliability of your amplifier, we recommend that you install your amplifier in a
rack case. The 350x is completely ready to be rack mounted and needs no additional parts or accessories
other than the rack screws and the case itself.
The 350x takes up two full rack spaces (3 1/2"). If the rack in which you mount your 350x requires that
the rubber feet on the bottom of the chassis be removed, please remember to keep the screws handy in
case you wish to reattach the rubber feet at a later date.
The 350x should be mounted as close to the bottom of the rack case as possible. If you must mount the
350x in an area of the rack other than the bottom space, a piece of wood or similar solid material should
be installed between the bottom of the rack case and the bottom of the amplifier to prevent flexing of the
amplifier's chassis. Severe or constant flexing of the chassis can damage the amplifier and is not covered
under the warranty.
Please do not forget about your amp after it has been installed in a rack case. Continuous transportation
and vibration can cause screws to become loose, both on the 350x and with your rack case rails. We rec-
ommend that at least once a month you remove the 350x from the case and tighten all outside screws
and wipe off the outside of the chassis with a damp cloth. Then check all the connections in your rack
case and reinstall the unit.
A FEW WORDS CONCERNING HEAT
One of the most asked questions about our amplifiers is why they tend to get warmer than other amps.
The chassis of your amplifier can get quite warm during normal usage. This is especially true if you are
operating your 350x at a 4 ohm total impedance. This is because these low impedances are introducing
the least efficient condition of the unit (in terms of power drawn from the outlet in relation to power pro-
duced in the speakers). The difference in these two figures can be as high as 300 watts. This would be
the equivalent of putting a 300-watt light bulb inside a metal box, which would obviously get quite hot.
Most musical instrument amplifiers on the market today use steel for their chassis, which does not con-
duct heat as well as aluminum. The 350x uses an all aluminum chassis and front panel because it has
less impurities than steel, is less susceptible to rust, and is a better conductor of heat. This results in the
chassis acting as an additional heatsink, drawing heat away from heat-producing components inside and
thus extending their life. In this manner, we feel we have produced a more reliable amplifier, but at the
same time, the outside of the 350x will get warmer than cases made out of steel.
The one condition you should be aware of is if one or more of the power amplifiers in your unit becomes
"over-biased." This condition can be recognized by turning your amplifier on and letting it sit "idle" (without
speakers plugged in and without playing it). If your unit star ts getting hot under these conditions, it may be
over-biased. This situation should be attended to and can be easily remedied in about 15 minutes by a
qualified service technician. A power amp can become over-biased through continuous vibration or by any
large jolt received in shipping, etc.
20 • 350x