Radio Wiring

[EvinFla]

Trying to install a radio receiver. Could someone tell me where the ingnition wire (red)goes (says to connect to a 12v source that is live when ignition is on and inactive when ignition is off), as well as the memory B wire (yellow, says to connect to the battery or 12 volt power source that is always live. I have a 18 open fishmeran, 1 battery. Would the wires go to the terminal strip under the console. <br /><br />Would appreciate any help. Thanks

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Radio Wiring

Sounds like they want you to tap power from the wires around your key switch harness. Use a mulitmeter (or your engine manuals eletrical schematic) to find the power supply wire to your key switch. This will be the wire that you connect the memory (yellow) wire to. Then find the wire that stays hot constantly with the key turned on and goes dead with the key turned off. This will be where the red wire goes.<br /><br />I recently replaced my key switch with an OMC standard switch. When I get home, I can come on here later and tell you what colors these are on my key switch, and they may be the saem on yours.<br /><br />Good luck

 

[EvinFla]

Re: Radio Wiring

Thank you, Knight.<br /><br />If one wanted to keep the power source away from the ignition could you run just one power line to the power terminal.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Radio Wiring

The problem with wiring it to the ignition switch is that you are going to have to have the switch turned on for the unit to work, not a problem when you are moving but if your anchored or drifting I don't think you want to do that. There is no problem with tying them both together however you have to make sure you turn the unit off when you leave otherwise when you return=dead battery. Our unit has a removable face plate so we always take it out which turns it off.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Radio Wiring

You are correct. You could just put both the yellow and the red wires together and run them straight off the Pos battery terminal and just put the black (ground) wire to ground. Like Boatin Bob said, you just have to be sure you turn it off when you leave the boat.

 

[EvinFla]

Re: Radio Wiring

Thanks for all of the help.<br /><br />Last question, when connecting to the battery terminal. Can a terminal spot be shared, or does each connection need their own screw connection.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Radio Wiring

You can share it. It won't hurt a thing.

 

[EvinFla]

Re: Radio Wiring

Boatin, knight, js, thanks for your help

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Radio Wiring

It is my understanding that with VHF you want as ‘clean’ a power source as you can get. Preferably, connect directly to the battery or an adequate power distribution point. In a nutshell, you don’t want to daisy-chain the VHF’s power source.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Radio Wiring

correct rabbit. but i think he is referring to an am/fm radio. i don't think a vhf radio would have memory power.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Radio Wiring

It shouldn't make a difference if it's shared with another device.. I wouldn't run the wire along anything with an electrical motor in (ie. windshield wiper motor, alternator, etc.). <br /><br />The ground is important though. The ground cable needs to be just as thick as the power cable and it needs to be a solid ground. If you get noise on the radio, it's probably because you have a bad ground.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: Radio Wiring

I like to run an inline fuse on the ground side as well as the hot side, just in case the radio case gets inadvertently connected to hot somehow. Might save the wiring. Problems like that don't happen often, but do occasionally happen. Could get energized even through the antenna ground, etc. Use the proper rated slow blow fuses.

 

[EvinFla]

Re: Radio Wiring

Still having problems getting power. I have my power coming from my auxcillary power post, which is on a 20 amp circuit breaker next to my battery on/off switch. The ground is hooked on to the back of the radio sleeve. any suggestions?

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Radio Wiring

ground is hooked to the radio sleave? how do you know the sleave is grounded (negative)?

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Radio Wiring

Are you sure the breaker is closed (not tripped)?<br /><br />You can check with a multi-meter to make sure you're getting power through the terminal. If you have power to the radio and it still won't turn on, double check your ground. You can also test this with your multi-meter. If you're sure you have power and ground and it still doesn't work, the radio must be broke - have you tested it directly on the battery? You can hold the leads on the pos and neg terminals of the battery to test it..just be sure you don't short the battery while doing so (ie, if the radio is inclosed in a metal case, don't set the radio on top of the battery - don't let a screwdrive touch both of the terminals, etc.).<br /><br />Let us know what happens..

 

[EvinFla]

Re: Radio Wiring

Thank you to everyone for your imput,<br /><br />Radio is working. I had the ground going to the sleave which wasn't grounded. I ran a ground directly to to negative terminal strip with some 14 gauge. Works great.<br /><br />Thanks again