Stereo install woes

[dogbert]

Not in a boat!! Grounding at the amp makes perfect sense.

I agree...you need to make sure your ground for your H/U is the exact same as the one for your amp or you will see voltage build-up between the two on the RCA lines.

[philwsailz]

"ground is ground is ground"

Wow, did you intentionally try to quote me out of context?

Just kidding. Seriously, just kidding

My point was to ask that nobody argue "ground is ground is ground", at least not in this instance. We can take advantage of the filtering that exists right there.

I agree with crossing at 90 as well. When not feasible or practical, running down opposite sides of the "vehicle" helps as well.

So if I were to elaborate and concur with you, if power HAS to cross signal, do so, or try to do so at 90 deg.
Avoid paralell runs of signal wire next to power wire, (or most any other wire for that matter).
In every instance try to remove the signal wire as far away from ANY other wire, unless by chance it is another signal wire, (like most RCA cables)

[jleger98]

So if I've followed all this correctly, I should rewire this as shown below, right?
Using 4g wire direct to the amps, and regular (14g) to the HU and remotes, right?

[spharis]

Only use 14AWG if the HU is in the glove box near the batteries, otherwise use 12AWG going across the boat, and 10AWG if going to the bow or stern then to the driver panel. On the 400.1 (??? is that right), you can get by with 8AWG on a run under 10ft; actually you could use 8AWG for both.

Rest of that gets a thumbsup.

[philwsailz]

So if I've followed all this correctly, I should rewire this as shown below, right?
Using 4g wire direct to the amps, and regular (14g) to the HU and remotes, right?

Good enough; that looks reasonable.

Just of you want to follow my advice, please fuse the amps with the apporpriate values shared earlier.

You could get away with wire smaller for 14AWG for non-power wiring, (i.e the remote turn on) but you have it anyway, right?
Go man go!

I am editing, and agree with Steven, big wire for the head unit power is appropriate if you have a long pull to the radio for its power. Sounds like you are considering it for the ground anyway, if you decide to ground to the amp's ground.

[jleger98]

Its about a 5 foot run from the batts to the HU. the batts are port side, the HU is SB side, right across from each other. The boat is 99" wide at the widest. I only say 14 cause thats what I have, but I can use 10, I have some of that as well.

[jleger98]

Thanks alot to all you guys. I'll get this rewired later this week and let you know how it goes. Hopefully it'll be as kicken as its supposed to be.

[spharis]

Use 14; it will be fine, and 10 would do worse than better.

[dogbert]

Thanks alot to all you guys. I'll get this rewired later this week and let you know how it goes. Hopefully it'll be as kicken as its supposed to be.

Let us know how it goes and just keep in mind, whatever it is, it can be fixed

[steves1967]

Hey real quick- I noticed you said LOWES was closed....(guessing that is where you are getting your wire) house wire and audio wire aren't really the same thing. You want wire with hundreds of strands in it, not the house wire which has 7-8 strands in it. House wire is too stiff and after awhile will break- had it happen to me in my car a long time ago. Not sure of battery cables- but if you really want to do it right head over to your local stereo shop and get good power cable....

[xpjim1]

So I am a complete newbie at this. What is the point of going + from battery thru ACC and to HU and also going directly from battery + to HU?

[spharis]

Only the radio acc wire goes through the ACC switch. A source unit has 2 power leads, one is straight up power....the main power. The other is a turn on wire to turn the unit on. When a source unit gets current on this wire, it powers on. It is a built in relay to control the radio power on/off.

[jleger98]

So I am a complete newbie at this. What is the point of going + from battery thru ACC and to HU and also going directly from battery + to HU?

Basically this allows you to keep your station presets and other settings in your HU. If you don't have this "always on" power, you have to reprogram your HU every time you turn it on.

[xpjim1]

Thanks. I knew there was a good reason for this

[jleger98]

ok, fine, you guys guilted me into it. I just bought some 1666 strand 4GA wire, and 80/40amp fuses and holders for 4GA wire (and connectors) Its an extra 80 bux I didn't want to spend, but from what I hear, its all worth it.

So I'll have it by this weekend. Gee thanks guys