ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
We recommend a qualified electrician perform the needed electrical connections to ensure proper operation of the scoreboard. These connections include grounding the scoreboard, the lower scoreboard cabinet power and data connections, installing the horn, connecting the scoreboard to a power source, installing the ScoreLink 300 or the control cable, and connecting the control console.
Ground Connection
The National Electrical Code requires a scoreboard (electric sign) to be grounded. Grounding the scoreboard helps the scoreboard electronics operate properly and helps minimize damage if it is struck by lightning. Metal posts do not provide an adequate ground path. The following steps describe how to connect the scoreboard to the power source:
- Drive one or more 5/8” x 8’ copper clad ground rods in the soil near the scoreboard.
- Connect #6 bare copper wire to the ground rods using 5/8” brass tear drop connectors.
- Figure 5 shows the location of the access panels and the dome plugs.
Figure 5 Rear Access Panels
- Connect the ground conductor to the ground lugs located behind the access panels.
Power Connections to Lower Scoreboard Cabinet
The following steps describe how to connect power to the lower scoreboard cabinet:
- There is a cable attached to the lower access panel terminal block labeled Power from Top Section. Feed the cable through one of the holes in the plate below the access panel.
- Install the cable in conduit and feed the cable through one of the holes in the plate below the upper access panel.
- Connect the cable to the terminal block labeled Power to Bottom Section according to figure 6.
Figure 6 Power to Bottom Section Connections Control Cable Connections to Lower Scoreboard Cabinet
The following steps describe how to connect data to the lower scoreboard cabinet:
- There is a cable attached to the lower access panel terminal block labeled Control from Top Section. Feed the cable through one of the holes in the plate below the access panel.
- Install the cable in conduit and feed the cable through one of the holes in the plate below the upper access panel.
- Connect the black wire to the left terminal, the red wire to the middle terminal, and the shield wire to the right terminal.
- Reinstall the lower access panel.
Horn Installation
The items provided to install the horn are the horn, the weatherproof back box, the mounting bolts, and the mounting bracket. Items which are not provided but are necessary for proper installation are ¾” flexible conduit, a ¾” right angle male conduit connector, a ¾” straight male conduit connector, two wires, and four forked crimp terminals. The electrical requirements for the horn are 0.35 A 120 VAC. The horn assembly is attached to the left side of the scoreboard for models with top sponsor panels. These models have two tapped holes at the mounting point. Other models may have tapped holes on the left side of the scoreboard or have one tapped hole on the top of the scoreboard at the mounting point. Mounting bolts are screwed into the tapped holes at the factory. The following steps describe the assembly and mounting of the horn:
- Remove the mounting bolts from the scoreboard.
- Cut a piece of ¾” conduit of sufficient length to reach from the horn mounting point to one of the holes in the plate below the upper access panel.
- Attach the ¾” right angle male conduit connector to one end of the conduit and the ¾” straight male conduit connector to the other end.
- Cut two pieces of wire of approximately 7 feet longer than the conduit.
- Push the wires through the conduit.
- If the horn is going to be mounted on top of the scoreboard, remove the side mount bracket as seen in figure 7.
Figure 7 Side Mount Bracket Removal
- Push the end of the conduit with the right angle male conduit connector through the 2” diameter hole in mounting bracket.
- Screw the provided conduit plug into the hole near the word “TOP” inside the weatherproof back box.
- Feed the wires through the other back box conduit hole and screw the right angle conduit connector to the back box.
- Attach the weatherproof back box to the mounting bracket using the provided 8-32 x 1/2” Phillips head machine screws, #8 split-lock washers, and 8-32 hex nuts as shown in figure 8.
Figure 8 Back Box Mounting Points
- Remove the horn signal mounting plate from the horn base by loosening the Phillips head screw on the base as seen in figure 9.
Figure 9 Horn Signal Mounting Plate Screw
- Pass the two wires that are inside the back box through the horn signal mounting plate center hole from the rear.
- Align the horn signal mounting plate with the back box so that the word “TOP” on the horn signal mounting plate and the back box should be oriented in the same direction and the screw hole on the bottom edge of the horn signal mounting plate should be directly over the gap in the back box gasket as seen in figure 10.
- Fasten the horn signal mounting plate with the four 8-32 x 7/16” machine screws that are provided with the back box.
Figure 10 Horn Signal Mounting Plate Attachment
- Crimp forked terminals on the ends of the two wires and attach them to the plug receptacle seen in figure 11.
Figure 11 Plug Receptacle Wire Attachment
- Slide the slot on the side of the horn base over the tab on the horn signal mounting plate and tighten the Phillips head screw on the other side of the horn base.
- Fasten the horn assembly to the scoreboard using the mounting bolts from the scoreboard as seen in figure 12.
Figure 12 Horn Assembly and Mounting
- Crimp forked terminals on the ends of the two wires that protrude out of the other end of the conduit.
- Pass the wires through one of the holes in the plate below the upper access panel.
- Fasten the conduit connector to the plate and connect the wires to the terminal block labeled Horn. Connect the AC-L wire to the left terminal and the AC-N wire to the right terminal.
Power Connection to Scoreboard
The scoreboard requires 120 VAC service at the scoreboard to operate properly. Maximum power consumption of Model 3545: 432 Watts. Make sure that power cable is rated for this electrical load. Install the power cable in conduit. Avoid running the power cable in close proximity to the control cable. The following steps describe how to connect the scoreboard to the power source:
- Feed the power cable through a hole in the plate below the upper access panel.
- Crimp fork terminals to the power cable wires.
- Connect the AC line wire and AC neutral wire to the Main Power terminal block on the junction chassis according to Figure 13.
Figure 13 Power to Scoreboard Connections
Install a power disconnect that isolates all current carrying conductors on one of the posts below the scoreboard (not the ground conductor). If a secondary switch is installed near the scorekeeper’s table, it should also isolate these conductors. Place the power disconnect in the OFF position between games to help protect the scoreboard from lightning damage. A power disconnect on the scoreboard post also provides a convenient way of turning the scoreboard off during maintenance or repairs.
ScoreLink 300
The ScoreLink 300 RF MODEM SYSTEM is designed to eliminate the control cable between the scoreboard and the control console on Electro-Mech Scoreboard MM and MP series scoreboards as well as all LED scoreboards. If you have purchased this accessory, disregard the section of this manual titled Control Cable Installation. Refer to the ScoreLink 300 RF MODEM SYSTEM OWNER’S HANDBOOK for installation instructions.
Serial Data Output Connections
Customers who have purchased a set of delay of game timers can provide one unit with serial data from this scoreboard. This connection is an alternative to providing a delay of game timer with serial data from the control console via the control cable or a ScoreLink 300 RF modem. Do not connect the second delay of game timer to this scoreboard. The following steps describe how to transmit serial data from this scoreboard to one delay of game timer:
- At the rear of the scoreboard, feed data cable (same type of cable specified for control cable on page 3) through a hole in the plate below the access panel.
- Crimp fork terminals to the cable wires and the shield.
- Connect the cable to the terminal block labeled Serial Data Output on the junction chassis according to figure 14.
Figure 14 Serial Data Output Wiring Diagram
- Remove the delay of game timer rear access panel.
- Feed the cable through a hole in the plate below the access panel.
- Crimp fork terminals to the cable wires and the shield.
- Connect the cable to the terminal block labeled Control Cable on the delay of game timer junction chassis according to figure 15.
Figure 15 Control Cable Wiring Diagram
- Reinstall the delay of game timer rear access panel.
Control Cable Installation
The control cable connects the scoreboard to the control console. Install the control cable in conduit. If the cable is ever damaged, it is easier and less expensive to replace a cable in conduit. A small junction box with a ¼” stereo jack mounted on the face plate is attached to the control cable at the point of operation of the scoreboard. This junction box should be securely mounted in a clean, dry area within ten feet of the rear of the control console. Most customers order the control cable with the junction box attached. Some customers prefer to attach the junction box after the cable is installed. Those customers must solder the control cable to the ¼” stereo jack. Figure 16 shows the control cable wire connection points on the rear of the ¼” stereo jack.
Figure 16 ¼” Stereo Jack Wiring Diagram
The following steps describe how to connect the control cable to the scoreboard:
- At the rear of the scoreboard feed the control cable one of the holes in the plate to the left of the upper access panel.
- Crimp fork terminals to the control cable wires and the shield.
- Connect the control cable to terminal block labeled Control Cable on the junction chassis according to figure 17.
Figure 17 Control Cable Wiring Diagram
- Reinstall the upper access panel.
Control Console Connections
The 10 ft. extension cable has two molded ¼” stereo plugs attached to it. It is used to connect the control console to the junction box. The following steps describe how to connect the control console:
- Plug one end of the extension cable into ¼” stereo jack on the junction box or the ScoreLink 300 Transmitter, if purchased.
- Plug the other end into the ¼” stereo jack mounted on the control console back plate.
- Plug the control console power cord into a grounded NEMA 5-15R 120 VAC receptacle.
Control Console Safety Warning
This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding type plug, a plug having a third (grounding) pin. This plug will only fit into a grounding-type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact a qualified electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the purpose of the grounding-type plug.
