Stereo Wiring Question

[Airden]

I have a 1997 17' Trophy (Bayliner) CC. I just bought a cheap $79.00 Dual 250 watt stereo package. Well, I am a paramedic by trade and dont know much about amps and watts.... I have a question....

I already located and mounted the stereo and speakers. The yellow wire has a large fuse inline. I twisted the red and yellow together and hooked to the HOT side of by fuse block in the console which is of course wired to the battery. I then connected the black to a ground on the same fuse block.

Now I am worried about the constant power to the stereo to maintain stations and clock, etc..... Dont want a dead battery. On the console near the ignition and safety switch, I have a couple of spare toggles. I am guessing I could use one of those to turn the power off on the radio, but am not too sure on how to do it the right way. Keep th red and yellow together and run them to the toggle then out to the battery or seperate the yellow and red or what... please help so i dont fry anything.

 

[Slide]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

Run them together into your switch. Be sure the switch is fused between the switch and battery. The constant +12V is only there to maintain presets, as you mentioned. Splicing them together will not harm anything but both do need to be powered.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

Your car can sit for several weeks without the battery going dead and there is little chance that very low clock/station memory current draw would kill a good battery in several weeks. Wire it as intended and see. If it is a problem than put it on a switch. It is a pain to have to reset the station memory and clock every time you flip the switch off.

 

[Airden]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

So, if I have a fuse block, I should come out of the stereo (yellow AND red) to the switch then out from the switch to the fuse block. or Dont do a thing and see if it drains too fast.... Thanks guys

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

Those are your options.

 

[rheagler]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

I also just put a Dual stereo in my boat. The yellow wire is supposed to be connected to constant power for the clock and station memory. The red should be to switched power. If they are connected together to constant power, the display will always be lit.
Your best bet (in my opinion) would be to connect the yellow to the fuse block, and the red to one of your toggles you mentioned.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

If they are connected together to constant power, the display will always be lit.

The power button on the stereo should take care of that.

 

[rheagler]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

The power button on the stereo should take care of that.

It doesn't. When the red wire is connected to power on these units the display is lit with the time of day with the power button off.
Much like a factory radio in a car.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

A factory radio in a car does NOT display time constantly. The only time it does is when the key is in the RUN or ACC postition.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

It doesn't. When the red wire is connected to power on these units the display is lit with the time of day with the power button off.

I have mine wired together, and, yes, the time is always displayed, but the lighting goes off when I hit the power button. I can't imagine the LCD clock uses much juice.

 

[rheagler]

Re: Stereo Wiring Question

A factory radio in a car does NOT display time constantly. The only time it does is when the key is in the RUN or ACC postition.

You are absolutely right on that, I apologize for leaving out that fact. I had not yet had coffee this morning when I posted that.