Stereo almost done! Need more help though, CHP and Phil...? ANYBODY?

[philwsailz]

I make 4 gage ring terminal connections with my hot air gun. Crazy, but it works, and it keeps the open flame out of the equation

[Jason B]

You can also use a pencil torch that costs like $9.99 at Home Depot. Works great...just have to fill it more often as it doesn't hold much butane.

I crimp mine on before I solder with a set of vise grips. You'd be amazed how hard those things can sqeeze, just adjust them properly and even a child could muscle a good crimp from them.

[philwsailz]

I do sometimes just crimp. A hammer and the concrete shop floor make a good crimp tool.

[h2osk8er00]

So I got it all wired and used the vice grips to seal the deal... a little bit of muscle closed the clamps up nicely. We had a blast out there man... and EVERYONE on the water could hear how much fun we were having... had to turn it down a couple times because I was afraid I was disturbing the peace with all the kids and my music being so profane...lol...but all in all it was good... only thing that suckked was that the sub didn't fit flush insode so I threw the old clarion in there just for the day...I was going to cut a bigger whole but I figured it would be easier for me to mount another piece of wood over it with the right sized hole... the whole is only off by about a half inch... what do you guys think? also, I have dual batteries so I ran the system off of one while we chilled at the island... then had to use both batteries to start it up as we chilled and drank some water-sodas for about two hours with the stereo bumping... luckily it started but when we wen board and tried to start it again it wouldn't turn over... The ignition is really loose inside the boat so I have to hold the back of it to turn it over but I was wondering if maybe I was in too shallow of water to start it... I think it was 4 ft but I didn't know if tiges have a sensor that would keep it from turning over.. I want to get a new ignition so should i just order from overtons? ill check out some things on the forums and see what's up. Also what is the best way to keep my system cranking without worrying about the battery dying... I had this adapter for my ac outlet the has a solar charger thing adapted so I used that but I don't know how well that works.. It was a lot of fun having the loud *** system though... thanks mike and phil for all the help...and to everyone else with there two cents.. Summer is here for me! FINALLY!

[chpthril]

I was going to cut a bigger whole but I figured it would be easier for me to mount another piece of wood over it with the right sized hole... the whole is only off by about a half inch... what do you guys think?

I would just open the hole up instead of mess with a piece wood that would need to be sealed and then covered.

I have dual batteries so I ran the system off of one while we chilled at the island... then had to use both batteries to start it up as we chilled and drank some water-sodas for about two hours with the stereo bumping... luckily it started but when we wen board and tried to start it again it wouldn't turn over...

First thing I would do is make sure the staring battery is fully charged and in good shape....maybe have it tested. Next, if nothing else like lights or blower, etc were running, and the amps are wired to "House" battery, then the only load I can think of that might be running off the "starting" battery, would be the head-unit itself. Unless you relocated those power and ground to the house battery.

Does you ignition switch have an ACC position, or are you having to have the key in the "ON" position to listen to the radio? This would add to the current draw on the starting battery.

[h2osk8er00]

I would just open the hole up instead of mess with a piece wood that would need to be sealed and then covered.



First thing I would do is make sure the staring battery is fully charged and in good shape....maybe have it tested. Next, if nothing else like lights or blower, etc were running, and the amps are wired to "House" battery, then the only load I can think of that might be running off the "starting" battery, would be the head-unit itself. Unless you relocated those power and ground to the house battery.

Does you ignition switch have an ACC position, or are you having to have the key in the "ON" position to listen to the radio? This would add to the current draw on the starting battery.

Morning Mike,

I made sure both batteries had full charges before we took off but I'm not sure how to test them so I'm guessing I should take them somewhere. I'm pretty sure I have the stereo wired directly to the "house"(Where most everything else is connected...the other battery near the transom shower has nothing on it but the cables that run to the other battery) battery. The only way it turns on is to have the battery switch near the engine hatch turned to 1, 2 or ALL. So I can run the stereo without having the key on because someone told me you will still count hours this way, even if the boat is not on...my ignition only has off, on, and start positions...For now I'm going to invest in one of those jump start car battery things to keep onboard until I figure it out just so I don't get stranded.

Do tige's have a safety that would prevent from turning them over in a certain depth of water?

Thanks,
Mike

[h2osk8er00]

Here is a pic with the swim step re-done and the speakers finally hung...

[chpthril]

I make 4 gage ring terminal connections with my hot air gun. Crazy, but it works, and it keeps the open flame out of the equation

Crazy is right! I had never thought about using my heat gun, kinda figured it would not get hot enough to melt solder. Well, tonight, I was prepping for an install tomorrow, and decided to give the heat gun trick a try. well damn, it worked like a champ It had no problem melting a 1/0ga solder pellet in the terminal. Great tip!

[philwsailz]