SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Interior => Topic started by: Huklebuk on May 16, 2008, 12:46:04 PM

Title: How to install stereo?
Post by: Huklebuk on May 16, 2008, 12:46:04 PM
I have a stereo I want to install, but I'm not sure how to wire it so its off when the ign is off.  Any help/tips would be great.
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: GAWnCA on May 16, 2008, 01:03:58 PM
I have a stereo I want to install, but I'm not sure how to wire it so its off when the ign is off.  Any help/tips would be great.

On the back of your ign. switch, there should be 3 poles.  One says Bat, one says St and the other says Ign/Acc  You connect to the Ign/Acc so accessories are one only when the switch is on.  Bat is always hot, and the ST is for starting only.  Hope that helps.
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: Nordie on May 16, 2008, 01:27:53 PM
there are alot of stereo guys on here in addition to what gawnca said the ign/acc hook up the thin red wire to it from your stereo (all stereo wiring is standardized) and hook up the thicker yellow wire to the battery that is to hold the memory for your stereo so you dont half to reprogram it every time you turn it on
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: hotrod56cars on May 16, 2008, 01:35:49 PM
Right on, good info in here.  ;)  You guys are hired!

As long as the stereo is aftermarket (Sony, Kenwood, Alpine, etc...) and not a factory stereo (Ford, Chevy, etc...) then the red wire goes to Ig or Acc on the back of your ignition switch. Some ignition switches have a ACC pole and some don't. If your ignition switch doesn't have a ACC pole the red wire goes to the IG pole on the back of the ignition switch. Yep, yellow gets power all the time.

BTW, most stereo yellow/memory leads consume very little power and your battery should be good for several months.

If your stereo is a factory stereo repost with a pic of the stereo and I'll tell you how to wire it correctly.
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: Huklebuk on May 17, 2008, 08:05:00 PM
No its an aftermarket.  Bought it off of propertyroom.com for 12 bucks.  Its a cheap rampage, the cd player doesn't work but I just wanted it for the aux jack up front.  Was going to do it today but never got around to it.  Thanks for the tips.
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: KonaCole on May 20, 2008, 02:45:28 PM
Where are you guys hooking up grounds for amp(s)?

Sorry for the Thread Jack
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: hotrod56cars on May 20, 2008, 02:49:11 PM
Where are you guys hooking up grounds for amp(s)?

Sorry for the Thread Jack

Directly at the battery.
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: KonaCole on May 20, 2008, 03:38:06 PM
Directly at the battery.

I figured it would be there or to a motor mount.
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: Huklebuk on May 20, 2008, 07:38:56 PM
Anyway to ground it up front?  No worries Kona that was a real good question.  I hadn't even thought about that.
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: hotrod56cars on May 20, 2008, 09:42:35 PM
Anyway to ground it up front? ...

My 20 years of experience have taught me to ground a stereo amp at the battery to avoid future problems. The ground wire must be the same size as the power wire. Bigger wire is better wire. If I install multiple amps I run a huge power and a huge ground wire to distribution blocks that are mounted close to the amps. The size of the amp(s) will determine the size of the power and ground wires. IMO  ;D
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: Huklebuk on May 20, 2008, 11:18:41 PM
Ive run them in cars and I thougth the standard rule was the shorter the ground wire the better.  Course in a car there are 54 thousand places to ground, the boat, not so much.....
Title: Re: How to install stereo?
Post by: KonaCole on May 21, 2008, 06:41:11 AM
Ive run them in cars and I thougth the standard rule was the shorter the ground wire the better.  Course in a car there are 54 thousand places to ground, the boat, not so much.....

That is the impression that I was under, but in a boat we are SOL.  So, like Rod said, make sure that the ground wire is the same size as the power wire.
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