NEED HELP!

[CRUSADER25]

»I just recently boat a restored 1973 mastercraft. I am havin a problem with my stereo being connected directly through the battery, does this drain the battery pretty quickly or is there a way to wire the stereo through the ignition switch? And was thinking about adding an amp and subwoofer, how would i go about connecting another battery to the boat? Would the best solution just be adding another battery to the boat and i have heard of a battery isolator? don't know if that would help or not.

Thanks for any help,
Ryan

 

[LFK]

Re: NEED HELP!

Are there two positive leads?

You can wire it through your ignition, but most people want to be able to use the radio without having to use the key.

If the only drain is the radio keeping the stations memory, it's very small.

 

[CRUSADER25]

Re: NEED HELP!

Are there two positive leads?

You can wire it through your ignition, but most people want to be able to use the radio without having to use the key.

If the only drain is the radio keeping the stations memory, it's very small.

I am also thinking about adding an amp and subwoofer would i need to add another battery?

 

[QC]

Re: NEED HELP!

I would add the second battery and the switch to go with it. You should do some searching in the electronics section and here as this has been discussed a lot. Both how to use two batteries and the stereo questions. I have a 1000 watt amp and two subs etc. You defintiely want to be able to isolate to one battery when listening at anchor, the beach etc. Need the second one to insure a start . . .

 

[Silvertip]

Re: NEED HELP!

Regardless how you wire it the system will still draw the same amount of current. Unless the ignition switch has an accessory position you don't want it wired through the ignition switch as that energizes the ignition which draws more current than the radio (assuming this is an inboard or I/O). If you use a battery switch or isolator the radio should be wired to the COM terminal on the switch so it receives power regardless which battery you have selected. The station memory/clock wire needs a constant source so that will need to be wired directly to one of the batteries since placing the battery switch in the OFF position would kill that circuit if connected anywhere else. Finally, if you add an amp you will definitely want a separate deep cycle battery to run the accessories. This leaves you with a fresh starting battery. Isolators are fine but they don't have the capability of turning the electrical system off like a switch does. You pay your money and take your choice. Wiring instructions for the isolator and switch come with them. Search the web -- there is gobs of diagrams and information that will keep you confused for a month.

 

[CRUSADER25]

Re: NEED HELP!

WITH USING A SWITCH FOR THE 2 BATTERIES CAN YOU USE THEM AT THE SAME TIME..LIKE LISTEN TO THE RADIO AS YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE RIVER?

 

[QC]

Re: NEED HELP!

With a battery switch you can use battery # 1, # 2 or Both, whether you are sitting still or cruising. What I do is start with both first thing in the AM. After a little run, I switch to the battery that corresponds with the odd or even date of the month; # 1 for odd days and # 2 for even days. Then I have one spare that is fully charged if I drain down the main one while listening to the stereo or using any other electrical accessory. Repeat and reverse the primary battery selected the next day and so on . . . start on Both, get them both charged up, switch to one for the rest of the day.

Wire the stereo to the COM terminal on the switch as Silvertip has noted and the stereo doesn't care what you do with the switch.

 

[CRUSADER25]

Re: NEED HELP!

OK. THANK YOU I UNDERSTAND THAT CONCEPT NOW BUT WHAT ABOUT ADDING A SUBWOOFER AND AMP HOW WOULD YOU CONNECT THAT TO THE SWITCH OR WOULD YOU CONNECT IT TO ONE OF THE BATTERIES?

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: NEED HELP!

If you're going to be using them while the boat is in the "off" position, they will need to be wired the same as the stereo. Be careful of this, and be sure to have 2 batteries as the amp can draw lots of power and leave you stranded. The 2 battery setup helps to insure you aren't "dead in the water" because of lack of power.

 

[CRUSADER25]

Re: NEED HELP!

ok thanks for all the help.

 

[CRUSADER25]

Re: NEED HELP!

OK..LAST NIGHT WENT AND BOUGHT A BEPMARINE
1,2, BOTH SWITCH....OPENED IT UP AND INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOR AN OUTBOARD MOTOR, THE THING IS I HAVE AN INBOARD MOTOR..SO I WENT BACK TO THE STORE AND THEY SAID IT DIDNT MATTER WOULT STILL WORK...WELL I HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOOKING THIS SWITCH UP...DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHERE TO FIND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HOOK UP THIS SWITCH I DONT BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE THAT BRAND BUT JUST SOMETHING TO SHOW ME HOW TO HOOK UP THIS TWO BATTERY WITH SWITCH SETUP.

 

[QC]

Re: NEED HELP!

CRUSADER25,

Check ou the FAQ section ^ There is a thread on Dual battery connections with diagrams. Also, look into threads in the electronic section.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: NEED HELP!

That switch will work on an inboard or outboard. With all due respect, It is not fair to expect someone on this board to lead you step by step through the entire process since you have little electrical knowledge and would very likely end up with damaged equipment or even a fire. Fire and boats do not go well together. Get professional help locally,

 

[b00tstrap]

Re: NEED HELP!

You don't nessasarily need to go to a marine shop for the stero part, your local car stereo guys can handle the radio, amp, and speakers part. If your not sure, have them run the battery (constant) wires for the amp and radio to the switch and have a marina shop do the hookup to the battery switch. Ultimately my advice would be to setup the radio so that it draws off of a single battery. This way if you lose track of time, you can always select the other battery and get the boat started.

 

[bamadave]

Re: NEED HELP!

Save a fortune, Buy headsets and everyone one the lake doesn't have to hear what poor taste in music you have, lol.
Seriously, with all that power, be a good boater and don't crank it up while cruising . If you can't hear it, slow down so you can, not turn it up.
Lake house owners biggest pet pieve, boats going wot, stereo all the way up.