I have a 69 Glasspar Cutlas and I am trying to build in a DUAL Marine
AM/FM/CD receiver, but when I hook everything up the unit will not
power on. I have tried a variety of things. I tried hooking up ground
to some metal parts on the boat, and I even tried hooking it up to
Negative on the battery. I went out and bought another stereo system
to see if the first unit was bad, but this new unit won't power on
either.

The battery on the boat is in great shape, and the wiring is done
correctly. I have a fish finder that works off of the same battery and
it powers on fine.

The radio is going straight to the battery, and all the fuses are good.
For testing purposes I'm hooking both power (red) and switched power
(yellow) to the battery. The voltage on the battery is also correct.

Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong here? It must be something small
I'm forgetting here... but I just can't figure it out.

Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks

On 9 May 2005 06:35:28 -0700, "T39" wrote:

I have a 69 Glasspar Cutlas and I am trying to build in a DUAL Marine
AM/FM/CD receiver, but when I hook everything up the unit will not
power on. I have tried a variety of things. I tried hooking up ground
to some metal parts on the boat, and I even tried hooking it up to
Negative on the battery. I went out and bought another stereo system
to see if the first unit was bad, but this new unit won't power on
either.

The battery on the boat is in great shape, and the wiring is done
correctly. I have a fish finder that works off of the same battery and
it powers on fine.

The radio is going straight to the battery, and all the fuses are good.
For testing purposes I'm hooking both power (red) and switched power
(yellow) to the battery. The voltage on the battery is also correct.

Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong here? It must be something small
I'm forgetting here... but I just can't figure it out.

Any help would be appreciated!!

I know this is going to sound really stupid and I'm not trying to be a
smartass, but have you held the on button in for a second or two
rather than just pressing it?

Other than that, it's got to be a wiring issue or a miswired connector
issue.

Later,

Tom

Tom,
Thanks for you reply. I have actually tried that. I've tried holding
it for 10 seconds or more just because I didn't know what else to try


Other than that, it's got to be a wiring issue or a miswired
connector
issue.

Do you mean the connector on the back of the receiver? The thing is
brand new and I tried another one that was brand new, so I think it's
safe to assume that's not it...

On 9 May 2005 07:41:10 -0700, "T39" wrote:

Tom,
Thanks for you reply. I have actually tried that. I've tried holding
it for 10 seconds or more just because I didn't know what else to try


Other than that, it's got to be a wiring issue or a miswired
connector
issue.

Do you mean the connector on the back of the receiver? The thing is
brand new and I tried another one that was brand new, so I think it's
safe to assume that's not it...

I assume that this radio comes with two connectors - one at the end of
a wire bundle coming out of the radio (or a connector at the radio)
and one for connecting the power, speakers, etc.

If the power, speakers, etc are one bundle connecting to the radio,
then I've got to suspect a miswire, blowen fuse, perhaps a hot wire
miswire - something is not wired correctly if all else is correct.

Or, based on nothing more than circumstance, the radio gods hate you
and don't want you to use a radio on your boat. :)

Later,

Tom

On the DUAL marine receiver there's just one big wire bundle that you
connect to the back of the radio with a connector. The two power wires
(red and yellow) come with fuses, that are intact.

The second AM/FM receiver I tried is a car stereo (brand new) that has
two connectors: one for speakers and one for power (red and yellow),
ground (black) and power antenna.

I don't know... I have built in numerous car stereos into older cars,
and this is basically the same deal... but somehow I can't get it to
work. I am thinking the radio gods really must hate me or something

On 9 May 2005 09:16:54 -0700, "T39" wrote:

On the DUAL marine receiver there's just one big wire bundle that you
connect to the back of the radio with a connector. The two power wires
(red and yellow) come with fuses, that are intact.

The second AM/FM receiver I tried is a car stereo (brand new) that has
two connectors: one for speakers and one for power (red and yellow),
ground (black) and power antenna.

Normally, red/yellow is for the clock/memory or accessory if it is
following the EIA standard - there should be a solid red wire for
radio positive.

Later,

Tom

1) Establish that you have voltage at the battery. As other accessories
powered by the same battery are reported to be working, that is a safe
assumption in your case.

2) Test for voltage where the wires terminate at the stereo. If you
have sufficient voltage and a complete circuit to that point, the
problem is then either an internal problem in the radio or (possibly)
lack of proper grounding. Do this test even if you are using two short
pieces of wire to connect directly to the battery for a test. Don't
just assume you're getting power because a
3 ft wire is connected directly to the battery- there could me an
internal problem with the wire. If you're using cheap, solid
"automotive wire" vs. proper, stranded "marine cable" the chance of an
internal problem goes up a lot- particularly with an older wire.

3) If you have power at the battery but no or insufficient voltage
where the wires terminate at the radio, you have a dirty, loose, or
improper connection between the radio and the battery. If this is the
case, start at the battery once again and trace the wires to any buss
bars, circuit breakers, etc that may be between the battery and the
radio. Test for voltage. When you find a connection without power or
proper voltage, look carefully at that connection, and look again at
the connection immediately preceding it in the circuit.

wrote:
1) Establish that you have voltage at the battery. As other
accessories
powered by the same battery are reported to be working, that is a
safe
assumption in your case.

2) Test for voltage where the wires terminate at the stereo. If you
have sufficient voltage and a complete circuit to that point, the
problem is then either an internal problem in the radio or (possibly)
lack of proper grounding. Do this test even if you are using two
short
pieces of wire to connect directly to the battery for a test. Don't
just assume you're getting power because a
3 ft wire is connected directly to the battery- there could me an
internal problem with the wire. If you're using cheap, solid
"automotive wire" vs. proper, stranded "marine cable" the chance of
an
internal problem goes up a lot- particularly with an older wire.

3) If you have power at the battery but no or insufficient voltage
where the wires terminate at the radio, you have a dirty, loose, or
improper connection between the radio and the battery. If this is the
case, start at the battery once again and trace the wires to any buss
bars, circuit breakers, etc that may be between the battery and the
radio. Test for voltage. When you find a connection without power or
proper voltage, look carefully at that connection, and look again at
the connection immediately preceding it in the circuit.


Thanks for your detailed instructions... this is a very old boat, and I
was wondering what you think is the best way to ground this radio.
Should I just connect ground to any metal part of the boat or is there
anything in particular I should be looking for?

Thanks

Should I just connect ground to any metal part of the boat or is there
anything in particular I should be looking for?

****************

A ferrous metal part of the boat that ultimately contacts the water.

Does your boat have a grounding strip or buss? Did you pull out an
existing radio? If so, reuse the same groung location. If all else
fails, the engine contacts the water through
the shaft, etc.

wrote:
Should I just connect ground to any metal part of the boat or is
there
anything in particular I should be looking for?

****************

A ferrous metal part of the boat that ultimately contacts the water.

Does your boat have a grounding strip or buss? Did you pull out an
existing radio? If so, reuse the same groung location. If all else
fails, the engine contacts the water through
the shaft, etc.

I don't know if it does. What does a particular grounding strip or
buss look like? I didn't pull out an existing radio, I actually
created a (rather big) glove compartment in which I have mounted the
radio.