I just bought a radio and the wiring guide says I have a Yellow wire (+) and it shows a picture of the batteries and the positive terminal. Then my ground. Here is where I am confused. There is another 12v wire that is red and is a + and goes to a picture of a key. How would I wire this if I just have positive and ground? Thanks.
Car Radio wiring
- Thread starter David ONeill
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You can put both on positive
You can put both the red and yellow wire to the positive. The yellow wire is designed to be always hot so that the redio keeps it pre set stations and clock. The red wire is designed to be hooked to a switched power source. It is fine to hook both to a switched power source such as an accessory switch in your power panel. If you hook both to the same accessory switch, when you turn off that switch, it will turn off the radio and lose the clock and presets every time you turn it off. If you want to keep the presets and clock, then connect the yellow directly to the battery and the red to the switch. If you do this, your radio will draw voltage even when the radio is not on, and will eventually run the battery down if you don't keep the batteries up.
You can put both the red and yellow wire to the positive. The yellow wire is designed to be always hot so that the redio keeps it pre set stations and clock. The red wire is designed to be hooked to a switched power source. It is fine to hook both to a switched power source such as an accessory switch in your power panel. If you hook both to the same accessory switch, when you turn off that switch, it will turn off the radio and lose the clock and presets every time you turn it off. If you want to keep the presets and clock, then connect the yellow directly to the battery and the red to the switch. If you do this, your radio will draw voltage even when the radio is not on, and will eventually run the battery down if you don't keep the batteries up.
Solution.....
The Yellow wire is the wire that keeps the 'memory' of the the setting and the clock ... this should be connected direct to your battery with a fuse. It will slightly drain the battery over time ... but a very long time as this draw is very slight. The RED wire should be hooked up to a switch (with fuse) such as your instruments or 'interior space' 12v. distribution panel. So that you can sut down power when you leave the boat, etc.
The Yellow wire is the wire that keeps the 'memory' of the the setting and the clock ... this should be connected direct to your battery with a fuse. It will slightly drain the battery over time ... but a very long time as this draw is very slight. The RED wire should be hooked up to a switch (with fuse) such as your instruments or 'interior space' 12v. distribution panel. So that you can sut down power when you leave the boat, etc.
alternator
The continuous drain on the battery is something to be mildly concerned about. Do you have a charging system on the boat? Their is nothing worse than going for a sail and coming back late with no lights .
The continuous drain on the battery is something to be mildly concerned about. Do you have a charging system on the boat? Their is nothing worse than going for a sail and coming back late with no lights .
Don't need a "key."
Just put put wires on "+" David. A car radio wants to be "off" when the ignition is "off." Since boats have master switches to disconnect DC power you wouldn't need that feature. I installed a "car" radio in my "30," and love it! Bill on STARGAZER
Just put put wires on "+" David. A car radio wants to be "off" when the ignition is "off." Since boats have master switches to disconnect DC power you wouldn't need that feature. I installed a "car" radio in my "30," and love it! Bill on STARGAZER
simple to connect...
The red wire goes to the + side of the battery or to a Positive connection in your switch panel. The black wire goes to the - side of the battery or switch panel. The yellow wire is for the memory, it remembers the stations and settings this has to go directly to the + side of the battery so it always has power...or else you have to reset your stations all the time.
The red wire goes to the + side of the battery or to a Positive connection in your switch panel. The black wire goes to the - side of the battery or switch panel. The yellow wire is for the memory, it remembers the stations and settings this has to go directly to the + side of the battery so it always has power...or else you have to reset your stations all the time.
Battery connected car radio
I went thru this debate when I installed my car radio- as to whether or not connecting the yellow wire directly with a fused connection to the battery would run the battery down. As this is done in pretty much every car how come it do3es not run the battery down in a seldom used car?
I went thru this debate when I installed my car radio- as to whether or not connecting the yellow wire directly with a fused connection to the battery would run the battery down. As this is done in pretty much every car how come it do3es not run the battery down in a seldom used car?
The textbook solution
Your electrical panel SHOULD have a switched +12 V buss, a 0 V buss and an always hot +12 V buss. If it doesn't then you own a hunter or other low budget boat. You should instal an always hot +12 V buss so you can connect stuff like radios with memories, wind/solar/gas generators, bilge pumps and the like. This keeps the battery compartment from looking like a rats nest of wires. I have not seen any non high priced boat that has this feature. OBTW I own a hunter. I added one.
Your electrical panel SHOULD have a switched +12 V buss, a 0 V buss and an always hot +12 V buss. If it doesn't then you own a hunter or other low budget boat. You should instal an always hot +12 V buss so you can connect stuff like radios with memories, wind/solar/gas generators, bilge pumps and the like. This keeps the battery compartment from looking like a rats nest of wires. I have not seen any non high priced boat that has this feature. OBTW I own a hunter. I added one.
Yellow is memory wire
to maintain your preset functions and stations. Most radios will not play unless you connect that wire. You can join it with the red + to go through a switch or hot wire it to have it maintain your presets. The electrical consumption is minimal.
to maintain your preset functions and stations. Most radios will not play unless you connect that wire. You can join it with the red + to go through a switch or hot wire it to have it maintain your presets. The electrical consumption is minimal.
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