electrical question

[reserche]

The previous owner had Mickey Moused in a car stereo in my Hunter 31 ~ it was never mounted ~ just sat in a cupboard behind the saloon settee... well tonight, it was sitting at an odd angel, so I touched it to align it ~ first could get no sound. Then it began flashing on and off. I got it to turn off ~ but after that, the cabin lights began to dim ~ so I turned off the ac power and the lights, and have been in the dark since.
My questions:
Does it sound like there's a short in the stereo wiring?
Second ~ the lights inside only come on with the ac (battery) power ~ not with the dc shore power switch. Does the shore power charge the batteries, or only running the engine? I'm wondering whether I'm going to have a dead battery soon as a result of running the cabin lights and stereo.
Please advise... thanks!

 

[Clark]

This will be difficult without some basic investigation, so here goes:

First, I think your terminology is reversed. Batteries supply DC power; shore power provides AC. You made no mention of solar panels or wind generator so the assumption here is that you have a battery charger that runs off shore power - AC. That charger should keep your batteries charged while at the dock. Your engine draws energy from your battery to start - just like a car. With all that said, you could have a short in the stereo power wires. Turn off your main DC breaker and trace the + and - (red & black usually) wires from your stereo back to wherever it gets power (it should be the DC breaker panel) and disconnect it there. It is possible the previous owner simply wired it to the battery (not a good thing unless he/she also used a fuse in that wiring right at the battery).
You may also have a dead battery but your charger should bring it back up once you disconnect the stereo power connection. I apologize if this is off base - just going on the info you provided.

 

[mike]

short

untill you fix the short in the radio I suggest tha you kepp your dc mains off
I am suprised that the breaker did not trip. with the radio not mounted it may have caused chafe in the electrical wiring causing the short.if you keep running the dc a mins with this now fixed it will cook your dc wiring in the same circuit. two things with this must be fixed find the short. 2 find out why thwe breaker did not trip.
later mike

 

[Dennis W.]

Flashing Lights

It sounds like you have a serious short and no inline fuse or breaker. Trace the radio wireing back to it's source and disconnect it!!! Next, you seem to be confusing terms. Your lighting is most likely DC (from your battery) not AC (from your shore power) Your AC distribution panel should have a swith or breaker marked battery charger or similar. Proceed cautiously if you have electrical experience or hire a qualified technician or you may get the opportunity to spend too much time with a claims adjuster.

 

[reserche]

Ac/ DC

Sorry about the AC/ DC confusion- I was writing this post in the dark on my phone internet - I couldn't find the flashlight, and turned the cabin lights out to avoid any further electrical meltdowns!

So - yes- the light seemed to be wired to the DC (battery) - they were dimming out last night, so I shut off the switch for the DC and the cabin light switch.

My take is that the short in the stereo was causing the light dimming problem. I'm trying to locate someone who can come take a look at the electrical issue here.
But - just to be clear- should the shore power be charging the battery, as long as I'm plugged into the dock?

thanks! I really appreciate you guys helping me..

 

[Clark]

Yes, the batteries should be charged while at the dock. This assumes:

1) You have a charger that is wired and working properly
2) Your batteries are healthy enough to take a charge.

 

[pimerese]

You might want to check this

My stereo unit is made by Seaworthy. It has a feature where the sound shuts down if the battery voltage goes below a certain limit (10.8 volts maybe?). It is meant to be a warning signal that you are depleating your batteries when sailing or at anchor with the music on. If your battery charger stopped working, or if indeed you are not equipped with one, you might get similar symptoms.

PS: mount the music deck. Its not good to have it bouncing around anyway. I used a plastic housing mounted under the nav table. Great installation spot.

 

[reserche]

stereo electrical

Thanks guys- and yes, I will mount the stereo once I get this electrical problem solved. The "bouncing around" - is what caused the wires to dislodge in the first place! I really need to install some new flush mounted speakers as well.