radio install

[smike26]

I'm installing my old truck radio into my new boat but can't get it to power up. My hot wire starts at the battery, goes to a block, then to an accessory switch then to the stereo deck. My ground comes from the deck straight to the battery ground. All fuses are good, I'm wondering if I have the ground attached wrong. Any suggestions?

 

[Boatist]

Re: radio install

Smike<br />You say ground comes from deck straight to battery ground. By deck do you mean radio Metal Chassis??<br />Many radios have two +12 Volt lines one for the Radio and one for the Light. Also do you have Speaker plugged in. <br />When you say will not power up due you mean no lights hum or sound at all??? Check you +12 Volts wire with a meter or test light. Messure from +12 volts to radio metal case. If it has a removable face is it installed right??

 

[Mikedg]

Re: radio install

Most modern radios have 2 power wires. One for the main power, one to sense that the ignition is on or off to turn the radio on or off without manually turning on the power. Make sure you have both of these hooked to a 12V source and fused.

 

[AndyL]

Re: radio install

Things I would check are:- is the boat negative(-ve) ground the same as the vehicle. Some vehicle ar (+ve) ground.<br />Ensure as was suggested that you have a permanent feed to the memory side. This usually has a very low miliampere fuse in line.<br />Most car radios rely on the return from the vehicle chassis which will not be readily available in a glass boat.<br />Put a meter across the terminals before connecting the set and ensure you are reading 12volts with correct polarity.<br />Turn the volume up!!

 

[rons boat]

Re: radio install

As several have explained the radio has a keep alive circuit to power the clock and bypasses any switch to stay hot all the time( very low current draw to run the clock) and then the power to run the radio which is switched.

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: radio install

Hi Smike26, what year and make is the radio?

 

[smike26]

Re: radio install

I new about the memory wire (constant hot) but wasn't concerned because I have the battery out of boat so often. But I didn't realize that had to be connected for it to power up. Works fine now. Thanks to all who replied!!