Wiring a stereo amplifier

[watchinthebobber]

So I bought this boat and it came with a decent head unit, 2 amplifiers, and 6 speakers. I'm not into big booming music out on the water, but I do appreciate a good sounding system.

I'm redoing all the wiring and removing the 2 subs and the amp that ran the subs and leaving a pair of 6x9's and some 5" door speakers (4 speakers total).

My question is in regards to keeping or eliminating the amp for the remaining 4 speakers. I will eventually be running two batteries in this boat, but I'm curious how people running amps normally connect them. Do I run it to the main starting battery or do I wire it to my auxillary battery that runs the trolling motor?

Most of the time we would be using the stereo would be when the boat is not running. Should I worry about wiring it to the starting battery and draining it? Or should I wire it to the aux battery and just charge it before each trip?

Just curious how sytems are typically wired.

Thanks

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

Whoooops! Just realized I posted this in the wrong forum, sorry. Can a mod please move it to ----> Electrics, Electronics and Trolling Motors

Thanks

 

[salty87]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

starting battery is for starting only in my set up...diagram b... http://www.boatfix.com/how/Ele1.html

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

As long as you are not running any external amps, you would be safe wiring it to the start battery. If you are worried about starting, carry a jump start box. They are about $30 bucks at any farm store or auto store. Obviously it's safest going to the troller. But you are mistaken about charging. You do not charge a trolling motor battery BEFORE you go out. You charge ANY battery immediately AFTER use. Leaving a battery partially discharged or fully discharged is a good way to kill it prematurely.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

As long as you are not running any external amps, you would be safe wiring it to the start battery. If you are worried about starting, carry a jump start box. They are about $30 bucks at any farm store or auto store. Obviously it's safest going to the troller. But you are mistaken about charging. You do not charge a trolling motor battery BEFORE you go out. You charge ANY battery immediately AFTER use. Leaving a battery partially discharged or fully discharged is a good way to kill it prematurely.

Ok fish on...Deep cycle batterys were before my time...

 

[Zero Balance]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

starting battery is for starting only in my set up...diagram b... http://www.boatfix.com/how/Ele1.html

Same on my system. I have seperated circuits. Start and tilt on one circuit, everything else on the other.

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

Thanks it's settled. I will run one starting battery wired to the boats main + and - leads and one battery for auxillary items (trolling, amp, fishfinder, etc.)

Don't know if I'll go as far as installing a selector switch just yet, that may be a good project down the road.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

Way too cautious gents -- with one exception. If this is an I/O then I would tend to agree. If this is an outboard, they require much less current to start. My last three boats have had live well pumps, radios, console and bow locators and GPS all running from the start battery. I fish hard, and am on the water most mornings and from about 4PM to just before dark. I do not want to end my day early because the troller is too deeply discharged. If your troller is not heavily used, then powering the accessories from it is ok - and even if it is heavily used that's ok too and is simply a preference. But I have never had my start battery fail to start my engine and if it did I have two options. Jumper cables and a jump start box. I might add that my engines start with just a quick turn of the key. If you need to crank an engine repeatedly to get it started, fix your starting procedure or get the engine fixed.

 

[Zero Balance]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

Cautious you say?

I run a 1,000 and 400 watt amps, all my electronics, downriggers, an inverter for TV/DVD/VCR, airing up toys and any other case where I'd need 110V in a pinch. I run three batts altogether 1 start/ 2 house on a BEP system with a modified pulley on my alt to get more amperage when operating @ low RPMs (trolling for instance) and yeah, it's an I/O...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

Okay -- can't ever have too much power, just too little.

 

[Irv964]

Re: Wiring a stereo amplifier

As long as you are not running any external amps, you would be safe wiring it to the start battery. If you are worried about starting, carry a jump start box. They are about $30 bucks at any farm store or auto store. Obviously it's safest going to the troller. But you are mistaken about charging. You do not charge a trolling motor battery BEFORE you go out. You charge ANY battery immediately AFTER use. Leaving a battery partially discharged or fully discharged is a good way to kill it prematurely.

Silvertip, going to have to disagree with you on that one. The way a battery charger works is it detects the heat that has been put into the battery, so if your charging a warm/hot battery the charger is going to assume the battery is almost charged and it will only receive a partial charge which will eventually shorten the life of the battery.
I have always been taught to let a just used battery cool at least 15 minutes before charging. I agree leaving one fully or partially discharged is a bad idea too but you shouldn't charge one Immediately after use either.........Irv964