New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

Hello all,

First I wanted to say I did search through the forums but didn't see a direct question like mine, so any help would be appreciated.

Today I went down to West Marine and purchased the Dual MXCP66 stereo head units / speaker set. I have SeaRay speakers already on my 185Sport so I didn't install the Dual Speakers (just and FYI).

I read a couple of reviews saying the units drains the battery if you don't turn off your switches so it may just be the unit...but I figured I would ask anyway.

I go out on my boat about every other weekend, mostly to a sandbar where boats back in and anchor off for the day. In the past I have switched my batteries to "1" or "2" instead of "All" while hanging out and listing to music off the boat. Well today after installing the unit it appears there isn't enough power to keep the stereo on with switching it to battery #1 OR battery #2...it has to be on "All".

This worries me as I don't want to be stuck out on an island with 2 dead batteries from this thing, and I would still like to enjoy music while anchored out.

Any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thank you,
Eric

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

I've never installed those (and never will) however I read a report that if the power to it is not hooked up as directed it will drain your batteries. Might be worth looking into.

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

Welcome to iboats!

You don't have the main power lead wired to one battery and the memory power lead wired to the other, do you? That's what it sounds like. Both need power for the unit to work.

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

NYBo said:

Welcome to iboats!

You don't have the main power lead wired to one battery and the memory power lead wired to the other, do you? That's what it sounds like. Both need power for the unit to work.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome.

No they are connected correctly

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

Is one of your batteries bad?

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

Have you measured the voltage at the various leads of the radio to see what they are when the battery switch is in its various positions? Obviously you don't have it connected right so its going to take some troubleshooting on your part.

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

Eric T said:

Thanks for the welcome.

No they are connected correctly

Click to expand...

I would think this is your problem too. The stereo I just installed last week had 3 power leads... power, memory, and illuminate. If all three weren't connected, then it didn't work. I tapped what I thought was an always on lead for memory and couldn't get it to work. Turned out that was tapped to the trolling battery, and the other were going to my starter battery. Since there is only one ground, then that wouldn't work. It sure sounds to me like in your case you are crossing the batteries. Try connecting all the power cables from the stereo to the same point and see if it works.

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

The radio wires are connected to 1 single battery...i am starting to think the switch isn't wired correctly because I moved the radio wires to the 2nd battery and it worked regardless of what i put the switch on (1, 2, or both, even off)....weird

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

OK, first off thank you for everyone's replies, I really appreciate it.

Here is what we did today to try to figure out the issue.

The radio wires run somehow to the back of the boat, and turn into a larger gauge wire, which I believe is connected with the rest of the electronics of the boat.

As you can see from the picture below there were "2" smaller wires attached to the battery #1. After disconnecting one from the battery, the boat wouldn't start, tried both of the two wires and boat wouldn't start with just 1 of the 2 connected...not sure why but it takes both those wires connected for the boat to turn over, so there must be some rewiring done.

So long story short, I took those two connections and ran them to the center connection of the battery switch, which I found out also runs to the bottom of the boat motor, I assume the starter. I used a voltage indicator to find out that this wire has connectivity with the switch on 1 or 2 and both...when on off there is no current going so that helps me not worry about the radio draining the battery when switched to off.

So it appears the battery #1 is drained because when I switched to battery 1 and tried starting the boat you hear the click click...of a dead battery.

Anyway, take a look at the pictures and let me know your thoughts.

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

Sounds like a good thing to move those wires to the common of the switch.

One suggestion...get rid of the wing nuts on your battery terminals and replace them with stainless steel locknuts. Throw the wing nuts in the trash!

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

do you recharge the batteries when out of the water?
and are you using deep cycle batteries for the accessories?

and yes, you should have a switch between the radio and power source and switched off when not in use. shouldn't the boat be charging the batteries when on the move?

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

What brand batteries are you using? I upgraded to Vmax Charge Tanks AGM batteries and about 1500 watts of stereo equipment. I have run the stereo for 3hrs with no problems. Maybe your batteries are weak. Good luck.

Re: New Stereo works with 2 batteries, not 1?

Yep, I do believe you have found the problem!