Radio Issues

[coopin87]

Ok so I'm having an issue with my cd player cutting off once it gets to about 18 on the volume. I have rewired it into a fuse block seemed to fix it at first but now its doing the same thing again. Its acting like when you turn it up its not getting enough power for whatever reason.

Can I run a power wire straight from the battery to a toggle switch and then to the radio?

Will the fuse on the back of the CD player be sufficient or do I need to add a in line fuse as well?

Just want to make sure if I hook it up like this there will be no hazzards/issues.

(If I can do this and it works then I will leave it hooked up like this if not im guessing something is wrong with the head unit and I will have to buy a new one)

What I have on hand to use for this configuration

8guage wire
connectors
toggle switch
in line fuses

Head unit is in the cabin area and relatively easily accessed.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Radio Issues

Might be from lack of airflow & it's getting hot. If it will stay on lower than 18 without an issue and then cuts off at higher volume, I would immediately suspect heat from the head unit.

 

[coopin87]

Re: Radio Issues

Might be from lack of airflow & it's getting hot. If it will stay on lower than 18 without an issue and then cuts off at higher volume, I would immediately suspect heat from the head unit.

So basically I just need to buy a new head unit?

Its like it just dosnt get enough power when turned up. It will cut off then imediately cut back on ... and it will stay on as long as it is under 18 or so.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Radio Issues

So basically I just need to buy a new head unit?

Its like it just dosnt get enough power when turned up. It will cut off then imediately cut back on ... and it will stay on as long as it is under 18 or so.

If it were mine, I would consider the heat, but I'm only going from what you have posted. The 8g wire is more than sufficient. A single fuse is fine, no need to piggyback them. Verifiy solid connections. You can toggle it if you wnat, but that is what the on/off switch is for. Is there an amp involved in there anywhere (including a built in amp)?

Another testing option would be to borrow a known good head unit and replace it and see if it operates better.

 

[coopin87]

Re: Radio Issues

No external amp just the one in the head unit. Just replaced the speakers because they were origional to the boat and I thought it was one of the old ones that was causing the issue. I will run power and ground straight from the batteries then so i know they are good and of a decent guage. I dont have any extra head units laying around and the one in the boat isnt really that old. 2-3 years tops.

So is the fuse on the back of the head unit good enough or should I put one inline as well?

Would like to have it on a toggle so I dont forget to turn it off and run the battery down.

BTW looked at it again last night I have two wires one yellow one red going to the Power from the fuse panel with a 10 amp fuse. (yellow and red wire coming from head unit to butt connector to one wire that goes to plug on pannel) is that right or should it be two seperate lines going to seperate power sources?

 

[delirious]

Re: Radio Issues

Ok so I'm having an issue with my cd player cutting off once it gets to about 18 on the volume. I have rewired it into a fuse block seemed to fix it at first but now its doing the same thing again. Its acting like when you turn it up its not getting enough power for whatever reason.

Can I run a power wire straight from the battery to a toggle switch and then to the radio?

Will the fuse on the back of the CD player be sufficient or do I need to add a in line fuse as well?

Just want to make sure if I hook it up like this there will be no hazzards/issues.

(If I can do this and it works then I will leave it hooked up like this if not im guessing something is wrong with the head unit and I will have to buy a new one)

What I have on hand to use for this configuration

8guage wire
connectors
toggle switch
in line fuses

Head unit is in the cabin area and relatively easily accessed.

could be a speaker voice coil issue causing the deck to go in and out of protection....all speakers should be 4ohms (3.7ish on a multi-meter) check for bared speaker wires and/or pinches n chafes on said speaker wires

 

[delirious]

Re: Radio Issues

yellow wire is the internal amp power feed and memory retention wire, red is for switched ignition, in a boat unless my customers specify, i wire them both (red and yellow) to constant 12volts pos, ot a toggle in your case.

 

[stringpincher]

Re: Radio Issues

Check the ground. the more volume you use, the more power returns to the radio head from the speakers to be grounded, and will "rob" the radio of its ground.
I really don't think heat is a problem, people have the same type radios in their cars in arizona, leave the windows up all day, and the radio works fine.
I'd check the grounds
Larry

 

[coopin87]

Re: Radio Issues

yellow wire is the internal amp power feed and memory retention wire, red is for switched ignition, in a boat unless my customers specify, i wire them both (red and yellow) to constant 12volts pos, ot a toggle in your case.

Thanks. I was just making sure that both were ok to be wired together. Its so wierd because I havent had a chance to look at it again yet but last weekend I had no issues with it cutting out but then again I had it turned down fairly low (couldnt hear it outside the boat). Im hopping to get a chance to rewire it this weekend.

Stringpincher the ground wire is quite a small wire I will see if I cant get a larger guage wire on there.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Radio Issues

I would suspect its a connection problem. About the only thing that will cause it is that. when you turn it up it draws more power and a bad connection wont allow it so it cuts out.

 

[delirious]

Re: Radio Issues

if you run directly frm the battery with 8g wire (way overkill btw) be sure to fuze it at the battery, that wire will burn your boat fast if shorted....but a good ground is as important if not more important than the power, dc voltage leaves frm neg and returns to pos...heavy + feed with a light - feed = weak power to your 12v accessory...i do 12volt audio for a living.

 

[coopin87]

Re: Radio Issues

What size wire would be best?

 

[delirious]

Re: Radio Issues

if it just for the deck, and its not too long of a run (16 feet) i would say 12guage, deff 4 if you are going to supply power to an amp as well.

 

[coopin87]

Re: Radio Issues

Just the deck no amp I still havent got time to mess with it again but will see what happens this weekend. Thanks for the input.