Radio works when boat is off but not when engine is running...

[cruzing]

Hi all. I've read many posts about stereos shutting off when the volume is turned up... well that was my case, so in hope to solve the problem I replaced the cassette player with a new CD hu and removed the small amp that was there. Problem not fixed... Now what is going on is the new hu works great when the boat engine is not running, I can turn it up as far as I want and the hu wont shut off. But when I turn the boat on, the hu turns on and off immediately no matter how low the volume is.

I had my battery checked at the auto store and it checked good. HU is 50 watts x4 and I don't need to have an amp. Power and ground is coming (hooked up) from the fuse panel. Should I be powering the hu straight from the battery? If so, where do I ground at?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[dccordell]

Re: Radio works when boat is off but not when engine is running...

What does the radio do if you just turn on the ignition key to Run or On, but don't crank the engine... does the stereo stay on or turn off?

Stereos don't really draw that much power unless you are using big amps and all that, but you're not so you should be ok pulling power from your fuse panel. Being that the stereo works fine without the engine running seems to show that it is getting good enough power connection.

I think some (most?) stereos have internal overload protection that will shut off the radio if the voltage gets too high (or low). I wonder if your charging system is putting out too much voltage, hence why the radio shuts off when the engine is running (charging).

Do you have a multimeter? You could test the voltage at the battery (or fuse panel) with the engine running to see what the voltage is at. That may or may not be the problem, but super easy to check with a meter (doesn't everybody have a multimeter? Couldn't live without one...).

 

[Hustler04]

Re: Radio works when boat is off but not when engine is running...

Do you have a constant power source running to the yellow wire and a separate power source (IE off the ignition) running to the radio. Also have you tried to turn the radio on with the power button after starting the ignition.

 

[cruzing]

Re: Radio works when boat is off but not when engine is running...

What does the radio do if you just turn on the ignition key to Run or On, but don't crank the engine... does the stereo stay on or turn off?

Stereos don't really draw that much power unless you are using big amps and all that, but you're not so you should be ok pulling power from your fuse panel. Being that the stereo works fine without the engine running seems to show that it is getting good enough power connection.

I think some (most?) stereos have internal overload protection that will shut off the radio if the voltage gets too high (or low). I wonder if your charging system is putting out too much voltage, hence why the radio shuts off when the engine is running (charging).

Do you have a multimeter? You could test the voltage at the battery (or fuse panel) with the engine running to see what the voltage is at. That may or may not be the problem, but super easy to check with a meter (doesn't everybody have a multimeter? Couldn't live without one...).

Thanks for your reply. If the key is turned to run/on the stereo turns on and stays on no matter the volume level. The instant I turn the key to crank the engine/engine running the stereo stops working and the lights/face plate comes on and off as if power was being turned on and off repeatedly to it.

I never thought about too much voltage, I guess my next step is to check with the multimeter... and I have about every tool in the shed except that, so I'll be taking a quick trip in the morn' to the store. I'll post my findings following the test.

Thanks again!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Radio works when boat is off but not when engine is running...

If the radio is ON when you crank the engine, the STARTER draws well over 100 amps which can pull the battery down. Besides, in the START position, the "A" (accessory terminal) on the switch doesn't get +12 volts until the key goes back to RUN. Radios shut off when power is removed. Simple as that. Start the engine THEN turn the radio on. Bets it stays on.