Tips on installing my stereo

[TxHorns]

I'm going to install a marine stereo with 4 speakers this weekend on my center console boat. I know this is very vague, but is there anything I should know that an amateur might overlook? I'm going to make sure to run the wires before I drill any holes to make sure I can get them everywhere.

I've read somewhere to run signal wires and ground wires on opposite sides of the boat... is this true, and is it a big deal if I don't? I'd rather not have wires crisscrossing all over the boat, and just run them in a straight shot instead. Thanks for the help.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Tips on installing my stereo

When I installed my stereo I soldered and shrink wrapped all the connections and put a smear of silicone grease on the solder joint before shrink wrapping to keep out the moisture. The reason why you separate the 12VDC leads from the speaker wires is electrical interference from the engines alternator, you can always wrap speaker wires in aluminum foil duct tape to shield them but it needs to be grounded to work, its easier to just buy shielded two conductor wire off the shelf though. On my install I didn't bother with shielding since my stereo is behind my speakers so the wires go in different directions.

Otherwise its a straight forward stereo install

 

[underwurlde]

Re: Tips on installing my stereo

^ Interference of this nature will not be coupled into the wiring via electromagnetic interference - it will already be inherent on the main battery supply, hence no amount of sheilding will protect it. If there is any noise then it will either need filtering or suppressing (hence the use of suppression capacitors & the such like).

I see no problem in keeping the wiring together AS LONG AS IT IS FUSED. My only guess in why someone would suggest that the wiring is isolated in this manner is to prevent shorts and hence high current = potential fire hazard.

Don't forget that boat wiring is not a good environment for electrics, espcailly in a salt water environment. I like to either solder or preferably crimp wires together, then heatshrik and then conformal coat (using a spray).

If I find time I'll knock up a wiring scheamatic for you later.... but remember that a pitfall could be to wire it direct (not via a kill switch or fuse) - this would be dangerous and you could also accidentally leave the stereo on and drain the battery overnight.

Cheers,

Andy