Stereo installation wiring question

[natedog337]

Hey guys just purchased a new west marine amb600w stereo to replace my broken one. i have a wiring question. i removed the old radio and i planned on just using the wiring which went into my old radio for the new install. The problem i have is that all the wire colors are the same except my new radio has an extra wire (yellow) which the manual says to "connect to battery circuit or constant 12 volt source) and my new radio manual says to connect red wire to "connect to existing ignition circuit or switched 12 volt source. My old radio worked off a panel switch which controlled the power on and off. so i have one red wire that is unused from my old setup and a separate red and yellow wire left over from my new radio. I was just thinking of connecting the red and yellow wire from the new radio to the red wire coming from the old wiring but am wondering if that will create any issues. thanks as always

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Stereo installation wiring question

Your new radio will loose its memory of station sets and clock when you turn off the radio using the panel switch.

so you are best to connect the new red to the old red and run a new wire from the battery for the new yellow.

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Stereo installation wiring question

That's correct.
However, if you're like me and use a battery disconnect switch to shut off everything when you store your boat between uses you'll still loose the memories. In that case don't bother with the extra wire. Just connect your old power wire to the new red and yellow.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Stereo installation wiring question

Often the memory power lead will go directly back to the battery (or one of the batteries in a multi-battery setup), bypassing the main disconnect switch. The same thing is done for the bilge pump on most boats.

So, you could go directly back to the battery with the yellow.