Its time for me to get a new unit so I am trying to put all my equipment together for installation. I have a question regarding the Unitrol Omega 90 amps. I have been able to lay my hands on a few of these. My question is can these be controlled with standard rocker switches such as carling switches or must I use the huge Omega 9000 controller that came with the amps?
Hi,
No, the Omega 90 Amplifier generates all tones internally. The Controllers are simply that, so any switches that feed +12 volts to the appropriate pins to enable the selected sound/function (Radio/PA). To use custom switches, either use an existing control cable (requiring the removal of one end) or create a custom cable or socket. It appears that the connector is a 14 (2x7) pin 2.54 mm insulation displacement (IDC) header type. I recently purchased an Omega 90 Amplifier and Omega 8000 Controller and confirmed operation of each. I will post additional information about the connector type as I discover it.
One thing I discovered was that the amplifier may power up in MAN (Wail) if +12 volts is not applied to KILL (Pin 2) when power is applied. (I did not have the controller connected to the amplifier the first time I powered it up, thus this surprise.)
Though I now have an Omega 8000, I plan to use a wireless 433 MHz 4 channel (A/H, Wail, Yelp, Ultra High/Low) remote control for permanent use (no need to run wiring to the front console). If all 4 relays are unpowered, +12 volts will be applied to KILL (Pin 2).
Wiring:
Relay 1: (Tone priority 1)
+12 volts to Common
Normally Open to A/H (Pin 3)
Normally Closed to Common on
Relay 2: (Tone priority 2)
Normally Open to Wail (Pin 12)
Normally Closed to Common on
Relay 3: (Tone priority 3)
Normally Open to Yelp (Pin 13)
Normally Closed to Common on
Relay 4: (Tone priority 4)
Normally Open to CHC (Pin 1)
Normally Closed to KILL (Pin 2)
With the above, assigning the tones to the relays, determines tone priority.
I set the remote control for momentary for Relay 1 and latching for the other 3.
I use a separate relay wired to the dome lights the feed +12 volts to KILL (rather than wiring to the Park/Neutral Safety Switch to silence the amplifier when a door is open.
I hope that this information gives you some ideas into how to create custom switching for your Omega 90.
Bruce