Wireing a stereo and a depth finder

[allinmygarage]

I have attached a pic to go with this question. I am heading over to help a friend wire up a stereo and a depth finder on his pontoon. I asked him to send me a pic of what the switches look like. The left switch (nav / anc) is the type that when pushed up activates both the anc and nav lights (basically acting like it is pushed down and up both). Does anyone know if the middle acc switch is the same way? Basically if I put the stereo power on the up position and the depth finder on the down position will both be powered on when the switch is up just like the anc/nav one? Also does anyone know what the factory amp rating is on a panel like this? Could I run both the stereo and the depth finder to one switch position? He has more accessories then switches and doesn?t want to spend more money on the boat. I hope once I get there it will say the amp ratings on the back of the panel.

I know more boat info would be helpful but unfortunately I only know it is a 24 foot pontoon that came from the factory with the panel.

Thanks for any replies

 

[5thFish]

Re: Wireing a stereo and a depth finder

There's probably some information missing here, but I wouldn't wire either of those things to this (or any other) switch. Both the stereo and depth finder have their own power buttons. I would connect them both (seperately) to an appropriately rated fuse block or breaker panel and not to the switch. There's probably a fuse panel already behind or nearby the switch panel that you can use.

If you do wire them to the switch, what you describe will work, It'll just be a bit confusing... and you still want to have a fuse or breaker in there somewhere.

 

[allinmygarage]

Re: Wireing a stereo and a depth finder

Sorry I guess it is probably too confusing to diagnose without knowing all about it. I will wait until I see it tonight.

I just redid the wiring on my pontoon and the switches were very similar but had circuits built in. So everything wired right to the switch. It didn?t have a fuse block.

I guess the question that could be answered here is does anyone know if that 2nd acc switch (middle one in pic) will turn on everything hooked to it in the up position just like the anc/nav one does?

Thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wireing a stereo and a depth finder

The NAV/ANC switch is a three position switch. Center = OFF, up = NAV (both anchor and nav lights are on), Down = Anchor light only is on. Do not use this switch. In fact don't use any switch. The locator has its own power switch and so does the stereo. Wire them as suggested, directly to the fuse/breaker panel. The Accessory switch is a standard ON/OFF switch. Use it if you wish but it is overkill. If you the user can't remember to turn off the radio and locator he probably can't remember to turn off the accessory switch either. A better use of that switch would be as a MASTER power switch that kills power to everything.

 

[allinmygarage]

Re: Wireing a stereo and a depth finder

Thanks Silvertip - But that only partly answers my question. His Acc switch is also a three position switch. Middle is off. Up it lights up and turns on his "headlights" down it also lights up but doesn?t have anything hooked up to it. Regardless of what we choose to run to the switch, do you think up will turn both accessories on much like the acc/nav switch?

Sorry, like I said my switches are different like the ones you described as just on/off for acc. His is a three way switch which I have never seen on an acc switch either.

To me it is not overkill at all and I may be in the minority but my stereo is much easier to turn on/off with my switch then having to push the tiny on/off button when it is mounted really low in the captain?s stand. And the stereo won?t lose its presets if you wire it properly. I wired my pontoon for the easiest of use so my neighbor and anyone could borrow it. All I tell them is push all switches up and everything is on. You?re your done push them all down. That way I don?t have to worry about someone not familiar with the boat remembering to turn the stereo and depth finder off. Then again my panel has 4 acc switches But from reading a lot of posts everyone has their own ?easiest way? of doing things.

 

[allinmygarage]

Re: Wireing a stereo and a depth finder

One more thing sorry. Ill be there in a couple hours so it?s not that big of a deal. Someone who had the boat before him may have just replaced it with the wrong switch. Ill bring a meter and check out how it works then. Unless someone comes along here soon who might have seen a three way acc switch like this. I am guessing it is like the acc/nav and will turn everything wired to the switch on when in the up position.

Thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wireing a stereo and a depth finder

It doesn't matter how you use the switch. You can put the stereo on the up position and the locator on the down, or both on the up or both on the down. Obviously if you put one on the up and one on the down position you can't run both at the same time. The Nav/anchor switch if it is a simple three terminal switch, requires a diode to operate the nav and anchor lights properly. A schematic is provided below. If the switch is a six pole it wired differently and does not need the diode.

 

[allinmygarage]

Re: Wireing a stereo and a depth finder

Hey perfect Silvertip. Just in time too.

I really appreciate the help and diagram.

Thanks