Marine stereo install.

[dxg68]

I am going to install Sony CDX-H905iP stereo. I read in the manual that the unit must be reset by pressing the reset button with the pointy object every time when the power is removed. I usually disconnect my batteries from everything with the switch when I am not using the boat. I feel better this way. But it looks like I have to wire the stereo directly to batteries bypassing the switch or keep resetting it all the time. I am wondering how the other people deal with this problem. Thank you!

[Russ]

I have the same one.

You could wire a direct (fused) circuit to the battery to keep the clock/memory alive. I think there is a dedicated wire for the memory. Unless you could find a 12v battery pack or something to wire into the memory circuit lead. It's the same draw your car stereo would draw to keep the clock/presets alive.

--Russ

[Kelly Hanson East]

Just as an addition to this thread - if you install many brands of stereo without connecting the memory 12 VDC line, thinking that you dont need the presets, you will probably find the radio wont work, even with good 12 VDC on the main power feed. An idiot I know did this and returned three stereos to West Marine before s/he figured this out -with a doctorate from an Ivy league school too..

[Rick Westlake]

I chose another alternative - an amplifier into which I can plug an MP3 player or a portable radio.

My P.O. had an automotive AM/FM/CD player installed, with the 4" PolyPlanar speakers ... after years of disuse at the dock, the speakers were still okay (the cockpit speakers were weatherbeaten) but the receiver was non-functional. I found that PolyPlanar makes an "auxiliary amplifier" with a micro-plug input, and decided that would do my think perfectly. So far it has, though I don't use it all that often. (I do need to fix up switches for the inside and outside speakers, one of these days.)

[dxg68]

Thank you very much for comments! It is what it is – I will connect the stereo and the memory line directly to the battery bypassing the switch.

[Kelly Hanson East]

...with a fuse of course, please....

[Hamin' X]

The memory line is the only one that needs to go to the battery. The main power is designed to take power from a switched source. The current draw from the memory is only a few milliamps and should not affect your battery.

~Rich

[Kelly Hanson East]

The memory wire still needs a fuse ..of course its design current is a few mA, but if it fails it will short and pull the requisite many amps that start fires. A simple 1A fuse will do.

[Hamin' X]

Agreed, and the fuse should be at the battery end, in case the long wire run shorts. I just did not want him to think that the main power had to go to the battery, also.

~Rich

[dxg68]

It makes sense. I will connect the main line through the switch and its own fuse. And memory line directly to the battery with 1 Amp fuse on battery end. Now I got it! Thanks!

[c130king]

Amazing how this came up now. I installed my stereo yesterday. Still haven't run the power cables yet and was just talking with my Dad whether we need that "memory" line direct to the battery. Initially we decided we didn't need it...but after reading all these posts I will figure out how to run a line to the battery and put in a 1 amp fuse.

Thanks again to all for their great contributions to this board.

Jim

[Kelly Hanson East]

Jim - let me know if the stereo works with out the memory power attached - I bet it doesnt...

Regarding fuses - the main power doesnt need a fuse if it powered by a fused switch (usually on a DC panel) of course.

I put a 1A fuse in an inline older right on my battery, ziptied to the carry handle so it doesnt get wet in the bilge (and is easy to find)

[c130king]

Okay. We changed our plan. The "memory" line (yellow wire in my case) will be hooked to the positive bus bar in/on the electrical fuse panel...not directly to the battery. Thus it will have power when the battery switch is on. It will not have power when the battery switch is off. Thus I will probably not be able to keep presets...who cares. But if it needs to be powered to operate then it will have power.

I have not yet plugged all my components to the new fuse panel...waiting until tomorrow when I run the VHF antenna cable. I need to have access to that area behind the panel for this. But all the power/ground cables are run...just need to plug them in and secure the panel to the wood frame I built for it and which is already attached to the boat. Shouldn't take but about 20-30 minutes to do all that.

I have decided not to install the speakers at this time. I will just have some wires running down to the speakers sitting on the galley and/or the couch for now.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Jim

[dxg68]

C130king,

I am getting my radio today. But I downloaded and read the manual. It says that the radio MUST be reset by sticking the pointy object like the ball pen into the little hole after initial power up and then every time after the power was removed and restored. The way to avoid the resetting is to wire the memory line directly to the battery. I don’t know what the reset does and I will connect the memory line directly to battery through the 1 Amp fuse as was suggested.