Introduction
In July 2020 we released an updated version of the ACA called the ACA V1.8.
List of all differences between V1.6 and V1.8:
- Rear switch is a 3 position DPDT instead of 2 position, necessitating a change in wiring
- Rear panel is printed with a connection diagram
- Chassis rails are improved using weld nuts and secured by bolts
- Blade terminals are included for the front power switch
- Longer wire
- LED resistors have been changed from 10k to 33.2k to reduce LED brightness
Please note that the PCB did not change whatsoever between 1.6 and 1.8, and so the PCB included in all 1.8 kits says "V1.6". That's the correct version of the PCB.
To build V1.8:
- Print out and use the ACA V1.8 wiring diagram.
- Follow the ACA V1.6 build guide, but follow the V1.8 wiring diagram
- Review the comparison of the V1.6 and V1.8 wiring shown below
The build guide shows how to solder your power switch. Some early kits may include female spade connectors - if your kit has them we don't recommend you use them as they can be so tight as to be problematic. Just follow the instructions for soldering noting not to linger and overheat the switch.
If you have any questions please post them in the ACA Kit 1.6/1.8 Discussion Thread where you will get swift and comprehensive answers.
Cheers!
PS V1.5/V1.6 owners: In October will be offering V1.5/V1.6 to V1.8 make-up kits for builders who have already built a V1.6 (or earlier) and want to bring it up to V1.8 specification (or build matching monos). We'll email you when they are available.
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ACA V1.6 wiring vs ACA V1.8 wiring
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The only difference between v1.6 and v1.8 is the back panel, how the connections on the panel are wired, and the switch itself.
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The circuit is identical. In fact, the rest of the amp aside the back panel is identical in v1.6 and v1.8
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You can see the markings on the back panel, the switch positions on top then correspond with different boxes and the hookups are shown.
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All of the connections to the outside are on the back panel. Follow the next few steps to get the jacks and connects properly installed and wired.
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Insert wisdom here.
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Insert wisdom here.
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ACA v1.8 Wiring Diagram
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Print this out and have it in front if you when building the amp.
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Photo 3 - please align the ground (outside) tab to the TOP
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Photo 1 - Bare ground buss wire from both speaker reds to barrel ground tab. Ground buss to XLR pin 1 (grey wire)
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Photo 2 - Red RCA center to XLR pin 2 (red wire) White RCA center to XLR pin 3 (white wire)
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Photo 3 - Small wire linking pins 1,2 of switch together.
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Photo 3 - Red RCA center to pin 4 of switch. (Red wire)
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Photo 3 - White RCA to pin 3 of switch. (white wire)
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Helpful tip - Do not solder RCA yet.
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39K resistor needs a little bit of wire added to increase its length. Use whatever color you like.
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Connect 39K resistor from pin 6 of switch to White channel black speaker post.
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Photo 2 - Solder twisted pair grey/white wire, long enough to reach the PCB, to white channel RCA. Solder now.
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Photo 3 - Solder twisted pair red/white wire, long enough to reach the PCB, to red channel RCA. Solder now.
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Solder blue heavy wire to red speaker posts.
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Solder black heavy wire to black speaker posts.
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Everything shown here is identical in v1.6 and v1.8
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This shows the panel connected to the rest of the amp.
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Barrel connector has the double red to the power switch on the center pin, and the black power GND wires to the tab.
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RCA jacks wired grey to IN G and white & red to + IN
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Blue speaker wire to + OUT, black wire to - OUT
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Photos 2, 3 show the connections looking at the PCBs
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Top down photo of completed amp
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Using ACA 1.8 as stereo amp.
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Switch to MIDDLE position.
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RCAs used for input signal
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Speakers attach red to red, black to black for each channel.
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MONOBLOCK bridged with XLR input
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Switch to MIDDLE position.
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Input signal to XLR jack.
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Speaker red to output A black.
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Speaker black to output B black
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Monoblock bridged from RCA source
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Switch UP
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Input to White channel RCA (Input A)
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Speaker red to output B black.
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Speaker black to output A black.
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Mono RCA Bridged
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The markings on the back panel indicate:
Output A black (-) to Speaker (-)(black)
Output B black (-) to Speaker (+)(red)
The above illustration Step 16 and instructions here indicate the opposite on the speaker wire connections:
Output A black (-) to Speaker (-)(red)
Output B black (-) to Speaker (+)(black)
I am little confused here... ?
Note that the Mono XLR Bridged in Step 15 seems accurate and matches what is printed on the back panel...
Output A black (-) to Speaker (red) (-)
Output B (-) black to Speaker (black) (+)
Many thanks for your kind advice.
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MONOBLOCK Parallel connection from RCA
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Input to input A
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Switch DOWN
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JUMPER both black speaker posts together. Use a piece of wire.
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Speaker red to to output A red.
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Speaker black to output B black.
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Insert wisdom here.
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Insert wisdom here.
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Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
35 other people completed this guide.
The comments on build guide steps are very limited in nature and intended for short simple tips and gotchas.
If you have any questions about your build please post them in the ACA Kit 1.6/1.8 discussion thread where the communication can be much richer.
Thank you!
Jason - Reply
I’ve annotated a photo of the board with the resistor measurements. This way it’s really easy to check the resistances before soldering, particularly for the tiny resistors. It means I can skip a mental step and refer to only one document. Plus the board’s resistor numbers are obscured by the actual resistors, which otherwise complicates checking. It seems like an obvious thing to me. I’ve bought two amps, doing four boards, so something like this will make the project easier and more fun for me. I do NOT want to de-solder mistakes.
Has my effort been done? Are all my numbers correct?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RmDMN5XqTerufN...
clayturner2015 - Reply
Hi Clay. Please post your question and images in the ACA 1.6/1.8 discussion thread (linked below) for a detailed response. Sorry for any confusion about where to best post questions.
Jason -
Clay, your photo looks good for the layout of the resistors and respective measurements. If you are doing the ACA Premium parts build, note that some of the resistor values will change, notably R11 and R12 to 20K and 90.9K, respectively.
Puma Cat -
The supplied bridging resistor (shown here at 39K) is too short to reach from the lower right switch terminal to the left channel output. Also, it is not at all clear WHY the 39K bridging resistor from the switch used to go to the INPUT of the R channel RCA in ACA v1.6, but now, in V1.8, goes to the Negative terminal of the L channel OUTPUT (speaker bnding post). Please explain.
Puma Cat - Reply
Hi Puma, please ask this question in the ACA discussion thread (linked below) for a detailed response.
Jason -
The supplied blade terminals for the power switch were not wide enough to go over the contacts. The correct width is 0.250”
eschecter - Reply
Thank for the report. We are currently investigating whether some kits ended up with slightly undersize female blade terminals. If your terminals don’t fit you can just solder them the traditional way per the V1.6 instructions, paying attention not to overheat the switch while soldering. We will be offering make-up kits for any affected customers that would like the correct size and don’t want to solder (just contact the helpdesk at contact@diyaudiostore.com).
Jason -