ACCESSORY SWITCH, MULTIPLE DEVICES

Civ179

Cadet
Joined
May 19, 2016
Messages
6
Can I hook multiple devices up to the accessory switch on the dash?(21' sunbird) The switch that allows me to turn on and off no matter if keys are in or Not? Do I just increase the fuse size? It's currently the cigarette lighter adapter to charge my phone, but want to wire my radio to it if possible since presets keep deleting when I start my boat.
 

StingrayMike

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 17, 2014
Messages
355
You could, but you do not want to overload the circuit wiring.
you need to determine what gauge wire you have and determine what amperage you can handle
 

Jcris

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 23, 2016
Messages
466
So you're saying you want that switch to power your radio to keep memory? Probably not a good idea as that will draw on your battery and if left long enough will deplete it. And why would you have a switch on a cigarette lighter adapter? Fused maybe but no need for a switch
Plus I'd agree with CaravelleMike
 
Last edited:

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
If you plan to operate everything via a switch, add up all the amperage requirements of all the accessories you plan to run through the switch and verify that switch can handle that amount of current. And also that each wire to each accessory can handle the current for that accessory as well. And each circuit has to be fused or circuit breakered to protect from overload and possible fire. JMHO
 

Civ179

Cadet
Joined
May 19, 2016
Messages
6
So you're saying you want that switch to power your radio to keep memory? Probably not a good idea as that will draw on your battery and if left long enough will deplete it. And why would you have a switch on a cigarette lighter adapter? Fused maybe but no need for a switch
Plus I'd agree with CaravelleMike

Yes. I want the switch to control power to the radio. The ways its all set up now is how it came when I bought it. Red/black only to radio, cigarette lighter adapter on acc switch. It's 1993 sunbird corsair, 3rd owner, guy before me couldn't figure out how to keep presets either. The way it is wired now, the radio draws 100% of the time, don't even need keys in it to run the radio so the switch actually would allow me to kill it when I'm sitting the boat for a week or so. The power/ground to radio is 14gauge. Can I just uncomment power from ignition and connect to this acc switch and put a 20amp fuse in there?
 

StingrayMike

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 17, 2014
Messages
355
Yes. I want the switch to control power to the radio. The ways its all set up now is how it came when I bought it. Red/black only to radio, cigarette lighter adapter on acc switch. It's 1993 sunbird corsair, 3rd owner, guy before me couldn't figure out how to keep presets either. The way it is wired now, the radio draws 100% of the time, don't even need keys in it to run the radio so the switch actually would allow me to kill it when I'm sitting the boat for a week or so. The power/ground to radio is 14gauge. Can I just uncomment power from ignition and connect to this acc switch and put a 20amp fuse in there?

yes you can, you just need to verify how much amperage the radio draws and find out how many amps the switch can handle. Some switches have it marked on tthe side of the switch, if not it could have the part number. You can look that up for the rating.
what gauge is the acc wire? 14ga should work, but that depends on the length of wire run to and from the battery. You can do a search to find out.

so the radio doesnt have a acc wire? It might be there but not attached. I would take a look around a see what you can find.
 

jackd1023

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 15, 2006
Messages
269
there should be a "memory" wire on radio, has nothing to do with the power wire. Keeps clock and presets on radio but does not have enough power to turn on radio
 
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