GPS Installation - How to wire power?

[tmh]

OK, a bit confused on installing a Magellan Nav 6500 (used). Where the previous GPS was I have a red (pos.) and Black (neg.) 12v power leads. The "new" GPS comes with a power/data cable that has 10 wires. I see on the diagram on Mag web site that "External Power" is the Red and Black leads. That makes sense, so I hooked red to red and black to a brownish colored wire because there was no black and I figured it had faded or whatever. These were the only two wires that had been stripped y the previous owner. It wouldn't power up.

So, my first question is do I have to attach any of the other leads to anything? As best I understand they are for other inputs and outputs. The antenna is a separate connection.

Also, the antenna wire is a coax cable with a male fitting on the end. The previous one had a female fitting (could have that backwards). I'd prefer to use the existing antenna so can I strip the coax back and splice in the old female connection?

Thanks for any help.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: GPS Installation - How to wire power?

Did you have a multimeter and measure the voltage of these "wires" you happened to find? Why not use a spare fuse on your fuse panel if you have one or run some new wires through a fuse to the feed to your existing fuse panel?

 

[JustJason]

Re: GPS Installation - How to wire power?

Don't take the colors you find in a boat as a sign of "this is red so it must be positive", you'll fry your equipment that way.

3. Options

1. Leave the boats wireing alone and start your own circuit (fused) at the battery, that will keep you from guessing what is what.
2. Use a multimeter and figure out what the boats wiring is.
3. Or pay somebody to do it.

 

[tmh]

Re: GPS Installation - How to wire power?

Just to update, here is the wiring info from the manual

Connect... Wire
DBR Brown Black*
External Alarm **Red Yellow
NMEA Data to NAV 6500/6510 White Green
NMEA Data from NAV 6500/6510 Gray Black*
External Power Red*** Black

I am wondering why it says "external power" for the red/black. Is DBR the basic gps function and could that mean Brown/Black powers the unit?

My voltage is about 12 v at the leads for the gps (red / black with an inline fuse on the red). I think that is fine and the appropriate power lead for the gps.

 

[tmh]

Re: GPS Installation - How to wire power?

Thanks guys. I just want to clarify - I am fine with the BOAR wiring. I have a red and black lead at the location of the GPS from the previous GPS that was installed at one time. It's fused and ready for the new one. My questions all pertain to the GPS unit itself and how properly power it. It's the GPS wire diagram I posted.

Thx.

 

[NYBo]

Re: GPS Installation - How to wire power?

I think you're using one of the NMEA interface wires (that should be used to connect the GPS to a VHF radio or other equipment) instead of the actual negative lead. Try again to determine which wire in the bundle is actually black. Pull back the outer covering.