New Stereo

[jsylvester08]

So I'm almost completed a rewire of my 1986 19'6 Osprey. I wanted to finish it up with a new stereo pretty simple just 2 speakers and a head unit. My problem is when I wired it it consists of a ground, a 12volt accessory/switch and a 12 volt "constant Power Supply". I wired the "constant supply" strait to the battery and the accessory to my west marine switch panel. When I plug the wire harness into the stereo the switch panel does not work. This might be the simple way of looking at it but the lights the turn on when you turn on the switches will not turn on and I'm getting no power to the stereo. Does anyone have any idea why this would do this? Also my blidge also will not turn on but I think thats because I drained the battery from working on it all day and the lights were left on.
I posted the switch panel in the photo gallery.
Thanks for the help

[wingtime]

The accessory wire that you wired to your switch panel...  why did you do that?  if you supply positive power to that wire via the switch panel that should turn on your stereo.  The constant power wire should be for the memory circuit to save your stations and the clock time.

[jsylvester08]

The reason I connected it to the switch panel is so that i can turn the radio off when I am not using it so I do not drain the battery. The radio will not turn on if the accessory wire is disconnected. (I can't get it to turn on at all so far). Should I disconnect one of these wires?

[Blue Agave]

The stereo should have its own on/off switch, no need to wire it to the switch panel.

[Capt. Bob]

Working without a net (or photos) but I'll guess this.

Could the accessory/switch (one wire) be just that? Switched 12v power to another device requiring power, say a pre-amp.

[wingtime]

The "accessory" wire is what is usually used in an install in a car. (most marine radios are just marineized car stereos)   It typically was connected to the accessory terminal of the ignition switch.  This would provide power to the unit when the car key is either in the on position OR the accessory position.  (you know when you turn the key towards you).  So another words the + accessory wire is the main power supply for the radio.  The constant lead is just for the memory and the clock.  Do you have + voltage on the accessory switch?  Also if you have a battery selector just turning that off will give you the same result you are looking for.

[GoneFission]

You can wire the power lead (the one that would go to the accessory wire) and the constant on to the same power source.  You will just lose your station memory and clock time when you turn off the power.  I'm not a fan of having anything bypass the battery disconnect switch, so if you really want to maintain your station memory and time, consider buying a little 12 volt sealed battery like they use for security alarms.  Wire it between the switch and the radio on the constant on wire, and you will still have 12V when the radio switch is off.  The security battery will run the clock/memory for a couple weeks and will charge anytime the switch for the radio is turned back on.

[gman 82 aquasport]

This may or may not help....I just installed my new radio/mp3 player 2 weeks ago, like yours it has 2 power hook ups, 1 fused to power the unit and 1 not fused to control memory and such, and like yours if the memory wire is not hooked up, you get nothing, you can turn it on but all you get are the lights in the head on..Here's how I solved that problem( holding station memory is not a concern to me)
The fused line from the harness , I ran to a positive block in the console that is fed from the battery switch, so when the switch is off, nothing will be on.... the other wire I ran to the same block but with an inline fuse holder(same amp as feed line to radio, 3 amp I believe)( I hate to not have anything fused, had to many meltdowns while racing) this way when you turn on the battery switch it powers both the radio and the memory and thats what mine took to make it work, the radio is a west marine unit without cd...And make sure you have a real good ground.... :pirat: if memory is important, I would do as gone fission detailed..

[jsylvester08]

Thanks for everyone's help. Like capt. Bob said I put the memory and accessory strait to the battery together and worked right away. Thanks for all the help.  Happy 4th of July

[kraw2]

I just installed a new stereo and had to wire the power and memory wire together. The stereo will be powered on by a switch on the panel. No memory...

[Capt. Bob]

Thanks for everyone's help. Like capt. Bob said I put the memory and accessory strait to the battery together and worked right away. Thanks for all the help.

Glad it worked out but I can't take credit for the doubling up of the wiring (CJ ). Still you have to like the way this Forum works no matter who figures it out.
Enjoy the music.