question about cd player installation !

[quebec#1]

Hi im going to installe a cd player in my boat with two 6x9 speakers. The boat is pretty cramped to work on its a 1980 glastron gt 150 , my question is can i wire my speakers and stereo to my command box/throttle ? Is their not an acc wire that i can tap on to ??

 

[18rabbit]

Re: question about cd player installation !

I would come off the battery power somewhere after the battery switch…like at a power distribution source. Battery power is clean, not necessarily so with alternators.

 

[quebec#1]

Re: question about cd player installation !

So im better off with a direct set-up with the battery ? And not the acc wire from the control box. Can someone tell me how to wire her up , Im only using two speakers.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: question about cd player installation !

Gary....I put one into our 1976 Glastron a few years ago, there was a small dist panel under the dash that feed power for the nav lights and bilge pump. The thing to remember is that most stereos today have 2 hot wire feeds, one should be switched and the other is on constant for the radio memory and clock (very low power drain)

 

[quebec#1]

Re: question about cd player installation !

So i can tap a wire under the dash, but should put a switch on one.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: question about cd player installation !

The thing is that if you don't switch off the main pwr one it will drain your battery after a while, in a car this is the wire that goes to the ignition switch but on a boat you don't want to do that. Does this unit have a removable face plate? if so that will also shut down the unit when removed and a switch may not be necessary.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: question about cd player installation !

yes

 

[quebec#1]

Re: question about cd player installation !

Yes it does have a removable face plate..

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: question about cd player installation !

OK Gary...then just attach the 2 power wires together at the same source and always remove your faceplate when leaving the boat and you should be good to go.

 

[1996Starcraft]

Re: question about cd player installation !

But...but...but... <br /><br />OK the removal of the face plate is a good suggestion. I have the same initial question but I have an ACC switch that I can turn on or off. <br /><br />Its a rocker type switch next to my bilge, courtesy, horn, and navigation switches. Under the console I can see the various switches are connected in series (I presume this is the hot wire). Another wire runs from the top of the switch to a post at the bottom of the switch. Ant there is another wire under that post that runs off with a host of other wires. So where should I tap into the ACC switch?

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: question about cd player installation !

Are these switches illuminated? That jumper wire could be feeding the light inside the switch. You say there is another wire going off into a harness, could mean that this switch is already being used for something? I think you wll have to trace that wire before you decide to use this switch for your stereo.

 

[1996Starcraft]

Re: question about cd player installation !

The switches are illuminated. The manual would be a great thing to have open at this point.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: question about cd player installation !

Look for an open terminal on the ACC switch that has power when the switch is on. Do not splice it, though. You could always add a toggle switch if possible..

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: question about cd player installation !

A lot of the illumintae switches require a ground for the light to work, besides the red? power wire being daisy chained across the switches does it look like there is a black ground going from switch to switch as well? How many terminals on the switch? There should be an empty one either above or below the red wire, use a test light or meter as Rick says check for power when the switch is on....the red light in the switch should come on even if the switch isn't wired to any accessory.

 

[1996Starcraft]

Re: question about cd player installation !

I bought some 18 gauge wire and some connectors and a wire stripping tool. Like I need and excuse to buy another tool! I ran the wire from the switch area around and under the bow seats and past the bulkhead and into the glove compartment. This is where the wire harness for the CD player is.... <br /><br />I disconnected the ACC wire that was also wired in with the +12V wire and fixed two connectors onto it and the new wire and made the connection. I rapped black tape around the connectors to protect it a bit. <br /><br />I adjusted the length of the wire and fixed a connector to the new wire. I attached it on the open ACC terminal. I metered both ends of the wire and the switch terminal. I hit the ACC switch and out on the face plate and I was ready for some tunes.<br /><br />It works great and my wife won't complain about having to put the face plate on... <br /><br />Now I don't have to worry about battery drain too. I'm very happy - thanks for the advice and support. I learned that having a voltage meter is a very handy tool!<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[1996Starcraft]

Re: question about cd player installation !

I got thinking about the hot Alpine problem and I am wondering if the owner increased the size of the +12V wire to 16 gauge, the unit would run a little cooler?<br /><br />Heat is increased with the reduction in the size of a wire or the increase in resistance of the wire properties or the length of the wire. By changing any of these properties, he may have more success.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: question about cd player installation !

I ran all new 14 Gauge all the way up from the battery to fuse block, then 14 Gauge to the Alpine and it still heated up like crazy. Must have been bad karma or something. The Kenwood still works perfect. Beats me... Bad batch of CD players, maybe. All I know is that it works now...

 

[1996Starcraft]

Re: question about cd player installation !

Well its been 2 months and the Panasonic CD player and non-marine SONY speakers are still working well. We have had a very wet summer in the Northeast, but when its nice - its great to have some good tunes on the flat water.