Stereo cuts out - UPDATE

[Beefer]

Just installed a new stereo, but I went the easy route, and used the old wiring. It was starting to get too dark today to swap out the wiring. The stereo is cutting in and out, could it be the old wiring causing this? Seeing how the boat is 27 years old, and the stereo I removed was a Kraco, yes, I said Kraco, it wouldn't surprise me. Just wanted to know if there is something else I should be checking before running new wires.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

is it the antenna causing a signal problem or does the power go off or do speakers drop out or does it turn into a mono signal for some reason...Stereo cuts out is like saying my body hurts...

 

[boaterinsd]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

If it was me i'd hook up a power and ground right to a battery. This will tell you is the wires are bad or good. Than can do the same with a test speaker. I wouldnt condem a older stereo since today most of the stuff is throw away. Hope this helps.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

is it the antenna causing a signal problem or does the power go off or do speakers drop out or does it turn into a mono signal for some reason...Stereo cuts out is like saying my body hurts...

Ok, I just checked. It appears to be the speakers (also old wiring), but they are brand new. The light on the head unit doesn't flicker, and the signal meter stays strong, so I'd have to say the speakers are cutting out. Wow, I was really lazy this afternoon. Used the old speaker wire. Sound like the problem (wires)?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

Not likely speaker wires either. If it was, you may lose one speaker but not all of them. Sounds like the head unit is getting warm and cutting out. If the return side of each speaker in the old system were all tied together and grounded to the radio shell or ground, that may be a problem since radios today have separate return paths to the head unit and MUST NOT be tied together as they really are not at ground potential.

 

[RIVERRAT200BR]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

I agree with silvertip. If your using the original wiring you impedance is probably wrong. Most head units want to see 4 ohms at each speaker. If the speakers were installed in series ( which is not entirely uncommon) your impedance would be too low. This will cause the amplifier in your head unit to work much harder than it is designed to and get hot tripping the internal cut off. The display wont change, you just stop getting sound. Also just wondering if your running the motor while the radios on. My head unit will cut out from lack of voltage if my motor isnt running.

 

[RIVERRAT200BR]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

I also agree with boaterinsd. The stock wiring in most boats is a little substandard for a good sound system.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

As usual, silvertip makes sense, as well as riverrat. Boat wasn't running, so the low voltage is a definite possibility. I'll be changing the speaker wires here in a few moments, also. If I feel like dropping the boat and starting her later, I'll let you know.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

Ok, still was cutting out, with engine running and new speakers wires. The speakers 'energize' (for lack of the proper word) when it's turned on, produce good sound, but then cut out. I noticed on AM that even though there was tons of static, it seemed not to cut out. Could it simply be a crappy antenna? Yes, I'm looking for a CD to try, but can't seem to find one (I'm a real music aficianado).

 

[burp]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

I'd bet the new stereo has a higher output power than the old stereo. With the volume turned down low, does it cut out? As the volume is increased, does it cut out more frequently. I had the cutout problem when I installed a new stereo head unit. The power drawn by the stereo was too much for the original power and ground wires, thus the power at the stereo head was insufficient when the volume was increased. Pulling a larger power and ground wire from the battery to the stereo solved the problem. Speaker wire size was not changed.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

Ok, here's where I'm at with this....

Everything works fine when I'm playong a CD or from the ipod. It's only the radio that's giving me problems. So it must be the antenna, right? Is there anything else it could be?

The old antenna was one of those cheap rubber mast ones, and it was old and rusted. Stopped into my small mom & pop boat supply store, and grabbed what they had, which was a wire antenna ($6). Problem is still there. Should I drop the coin on a 'real' antenna? I'm talking about the 3'+ Shakespeare types, at $50+, or... what about getting one of those VHF splitters? I've heard good and bad about those. I'm hesitant on the $50 Shakespeare, as a) I'm not excited about $50, and b) I don't really have a decent mounting location without getting cluttered.

Suggestions?

 

[Beefer]

Re: Stereo cuts out

Re: Stereo cuts out

So I spoke with Jensen a couple of times, and after the tech tried to troubleshoot, he determined that the internal tuner must not be functioning properly. They're sending me a new one.