Wiring for new radio

[enigma5772]

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Hi guys. I have the same problem. Just bought a poly planar mr-40. i have a center consol with a( 1/2/both) battery hookup and dont know much about the install process. ( hope someone can help) I have 1 set on wires (black/red) no fuse then i have (black/red) and red has a fuse. which pair do i use and where do they go. I think red goes to the fuse panel and the black goes to the bus.(i think its called a bus right next to the fuse panel, all my other black wires are connected there) Also, i have a yellow wire with a fuse that i think im supost to conect to the red wire im gona use. SO CONFUSED!!!! lol. One more thing. The red/black wires are to short. What gauge wire should i use to make them longer. thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring for new radio

wire colors (when you have more than one of the same color) means nothing to us. You need to look at the wiring diagram and tell us what those wire colors relate to. You can generally be assured that all the blacks go to ground (wherever you find it). Reds are normally +12 volts and should be fused. Yellow is typically the +12 volt feed that must be hot all the time or you will lose the memory presets. That means it cannot be powered from the fuse panel since turning off the dual battery switch would kill everything on the boat. To extend wires, use the same or larger wire than the wire your are extending. Solder the joint and cover with heat shrink tubing.

 

[Audio Greg]

Re: Wiring for new radio

Most manufactures use the terms "Memory" for the yellow wire and "Accessory" for the red. Better terms would be "Main" or "Constant" for the yellow and "Switched" for the red. The yellow wire will supply power for memory AND every other function except ON/OFF. The red wire should always be tied to a switch (key, panel, etc.) to turn the radio on and off.
While both yellow and red ultimately connect to power (positive battery) for the unit to operate, NEVER tie the two together.

Black is ground (battery negative).

16 awg wire might be thicker than necessary, but it should be safe as long as your run is less than 40 ft.

Greg

 

[slia67]

Re: Wiring for new radio

...NEVER tie the two together.


Greg

Please clarify yourself. In all of the years that I've installed stereo equipment I can not recall a single reason for not tying the two together as long as the operator is aware of the potential for battery drain if the stereo is not shut off after use.

To clarify myself,... Ideally you would like to hook your yellow or "memory" wire to a constant source of 12V+, and the red or "accessory" wire to a switched source. But most boaters listen to their equipment with the ignition switch turned off. You could wire to an accessory switch, but just like having to remember to turn off the stereo, you would have to remember to turn off the acc switch.

Not trying to start a wizzing match, but either I didn't understand your answer or the "NEVER" in your response was a little hasty.

 

[Audio Greg]

Re: Wiring for new radio

Happy to oblige...

Twisting Yellow and Red together creates two possibilities:

1. You have to remember to turn off the stereo using the "Power" button on the stereo (or a wired remote). This is REALLY BAD because current draw can approach and exceed a full amp. Twisting together and using the radio's "power" button is where the complaint "my stereo drains my battery (over night)" most often comes from. Can't count how many times I've heard this over the years.

2. You tie both wires to a switch (Perko, panel, key...). This means you disconnect both wires every time you come off the water. This also means you reset your clock and station presets every time you board. This is not as bad, but still not ideal.

So by NEVER, I mean NEVER. Not because you can't make it work, just that it doesn't make sense.

I hate to ramble, but I don't want a wizzing match either... so let me give you a little more detail. The extra current draw you find by powering down with the button (Red and Yellow twisted) comes from the additional circuits that are active. These include not only the Power Button, but also the CD Motor Mechanism (loads/unloads CDs), accessories like wired remote controls, multidisc CD changers, satellite radio tuners, and so forth. PM me if I need to provide further explanation.

 

[enigma5772]

Re: Wiring for new radio

thanks for all the info. i hooked the red wire with the fuse on it to the fuse panel, then the black to the buse next to the fuse panel. nothing happen. radio didnt power up. i then hooked the yellow wire with the fuse on it to the red wire with a fuse and hooked them both to the fuse panel and wala. i have sound..i dont have to worry about the clock because the radio face comes off and i take it with me. is the way i hooked it up wrong? whats the wost thing that will happen if i keep it this way. what if i put a switch between the red/yellow connection and the fuse panel? ill just hit the switch every time come off the boat. thanks again for any/all the help.

 

[Audio Greg]

Re: Wiring for new radio

The worst that will happen is your battery will keep dying.
To avoid that, definitely use a switch.
If you want the radio to hold presets and clock time, simply rewire so that only the red wire is on a switch.