Clarion CDM6 need help with install

[samw]

Long post...

I just installed the Clarion CDM6 everything went pretty well. I have a few things though.
I had the original clarion in it from 01 cdm1 I believe. I used the old wiring harness since its the same except for not having a phone lead, amp lead and I think that is is. I plan on putting the new one in but my wire crimps were at work so this is getting me by for now.

1. On the wiring harness there is a yellow wire that is for mem for the radio and time. This never worked on the old radio. If I turned the battery switch off every thing died. So this yellow wire is not ran straight to batt. I tried to trace it but it runs all the way from the glove box to the dash wiring harness. Well under the dash there are several yellow wires so I can't tell which one it is.
So what I was thinking I found where it is on my port ski locker same place where my Batt is. Would there be an issue splicing into the yellow wire there and adding a constant 12v. Which will be fine when the Batt switch is off but what happens when I turn the Batt switch on when there is already 12v on that yellow wire???

2.The red wire for power. The radio turns off every time you turn the engine over. I would like to run that over to a empty switch I have to give it a constant 12v while the switch is turning over. Does anyone think this will be an issue?

3.Can any one tell me what wired remotes will work with my CDM6?
I have found 2 MW1 & 2.My book talks about a CMCR5, 6, 7 and I can't find them anywhere to compare them. I also see I am going to need a new cable to wire them. How hare is it to install a remote? I found the mw1 on Amazon for $108 free shipping from gadget town off of Amazon, does anyone know if it's cheaper?

I think that is it for now. Sorry for the long post. Never install a stereo before.

Thanks
Sam

[samw]

bump

[chpthril]

Below in RED

Long post...

I just installed the Clarion CDM6 everything went pretty well. I have a few things though.
I had the original clarion in it from 01 cdm1 I believe. I used the old wiring harness since its the same except for not having a phone lead, amp lead and I think that is is. I plan on putting the new one in but my wire crimps were at work so this is getting me by for now.

1. On the wiring harness there is a yellow wire that is for mem for the radio and time. This never worked on the old radio. If I turned the battery switch off every thing died. So this yellow wire is not ran straight to batt. I tried to trace it but it runs all the way from the glove box to the dash wiring harness. Well under the dash there are several yellow wires so I can't tell which one it is.
So what I was thinking I found where it is on my port ski locker same place where my Batt is. Would there be an issue splicing into the yellow wire there and adding a constant 12v. Which will be fine when the Batt switch is off but what happens when I turn the Batt switch on when there is already 12v on that yellow wire??? Im guessing you have an amp? If so, just run a length of 12ga wire from the yellow wire off the back of the head-unit to the amp's + terminal. The yellow is actually the wire that powers the head-unit when it's on, the little red wire is just a remote turn-on for the head-unit.

2.The red wire for power. The radio turns off every time you turn the engine over. I would like to run that over to a empty switch I have to give it a constant 12v while the switch is turning over. Does anyone think this will be an issue? No! I actually recommend this and redo many of my installs this way. This is a huge plus if running Sirius or MP3.

3.Can any one tell me what wired remotes will work with my CDM6? MW1, 2 or 3 Remotes
I have found 2 MW1 & 2.My book talks about a CMCR5, 6, 7 and I can't find them anywhere to compare them. I also see I am going to need a new cable to wire them. How hare is it to install a remote? I found the mw1 on Amazon for $108 free shipping from gadget town off of Amazon, does anyone know if it's cheaper? My info indicates that the CMRC series remotes do not work with the CMD6

I think that is it for now. Sorry for the long post. Never install a stereo before.

Thanks
Sam

[worsty]

Hey Samw,
I have installed all the Clarion products at one time or another. I prefer them over the Sony's and Kenwoods, but everyone is biased.
As far as the wiring of the stereo I would suggest the following:
The yellow wire is the +12VDC memory and also the main power source for the unit. That is why it is a heavier gauge of wire then the red wire. Becareful when connecting this yellow wire to any other on the boat. Yellow is the color for ground by the ABYC standards, but black is also acceptable and still used by many manufactures for ground. DO NOT CONNECT the yellow stereo wire to the boats ground! Connect the yellow stereo wire directly to the battery positive using a 20 Amp inline fuse (closer to the battery is better or use a resetable circuit breaker).
The red wire is the control for the turn on/off of the unit. Use this wire or run this wire to a switch as you had planned. This wire should be fused at 5 Amps.
To make wiring simpler, I have combined the red and yellow stereo wires together, running a single 14 or 12 gauge wire to the +12VDC scource. The CMD5/6 have an internal EPROM/battery that retains your presets when the boats battery is turned off. Unless you leave the battery off for months the memory will be retained for several weeks if not for 2 months with no problems.
The remotes are easy to wire. A single remote cable is used to interface the remote with the head unit. I can never get the remote part numbers right, so I will not suggest any. If you decide to get a remote with a LCD display, make sure to run two additional wires (16 gauge) for the back lighting and connect this to your navigation light switch or wire it on the same switch for the head unit and you will have constant LCD back lighting. It is sometimes easier to read the LCD with it lit.
For more information on the remotes, go to marineaudio.com they are the distributors for Clarion.
Lastly, I would suggest a Clarion amp or JL if you were going to add one, but the head unit will drive 4 speakers very well. FYI, the Fusion six inch speakers (handles up to 200 Watts per speaker) with the interchagable front grills (PN?) are very reasonable and sound quite good, but once again it might sound great to me and sound like Ka Ka to you.
Hope this helps?! If you need those remote PN's, let me know and I will look them up at work and also get you the retail price so that you can compare for those good deals.

Thanks,
Chris W.

[samw]

Mike
Thanks for the info. At this time I don't have an Amp. I would like to install one but not sure if I will get it done this season.
Thanks for the info.

[samw]

worsty
Thanks for all the info that is great. I will use yours and chpthril suggestions and get this finished up.

Thanks again

[SPBFAN]

MW1 Remote Brand new $120.00. I can get you anything you need for Clairion. I am putting that same deck into my boat this next week with the new remote since my old one tanked out on me.