Few questions regarding installation of new HU

glemay

Well, I finally got my new HU for my boat. It's a Pioneer DEH-P4700MP. When installing it, I read that you run the ground wire to a metal part of the car or in my case boat. But why couldn't I just run the ground wire or negative to the negative terminal on my battery?

Thanks

Gerald

audiobliss

You can. I think the point is that it's easier to just find some bare metal close to your HU and use that as a ground. That's what I think, at least. Someone else'll let me know soon enough if I'm wrong.

neomagus00

nope, that's it, the chassis of the car is set up as a convienent ground, and i'll assume boats are set up the same way. it's probably better to go straight to the battery.

glemay

Thanks guys. Now what about the ACC. wire, were do I put that, I have no ACC switch on my ignition? Could I run it to a regular toggle switch or can I just forget about it?

Thanks

Gerald

neomagus00

forgetting about it would be a bad idea. you can run a toggle switch if you like, but do you not have a key of any sort on the boat? if you do, you can splice into the appropriate wire and run that to the HU. if not, i guess the toggle is your only option.

[Deleted User]

So you don't have a keyed switch on your boat? If you do it should be: off...ignition...start. Right?

glemay

Josh,

Sorry, I wasn't thinking, yeah I got the ignition switch that you are talking about but no ACC switch. But if I run the wire to the ignition the radio will only work if the ignition is on right?

Thanks

Gerald

neomagus00

yep. +12V still goes to battery, ACC lead goes to ignition's 'on' position.

glemay

neomagus00,

So what can I do if I want to run the radio without the ignition on? What would happen if I ran the ACC wire to the battery?

Thanks

neomagus00

if you ran the acc wire to the battery, the HU would never turn off. if you run the lead to the key, though, there should be a point where the boat's electronics are on but the engine is not; if such a point exists, you can wire the acc lead to the proper ignition wire. if such a point does not exist, i.e. when the electronics are on, the engine's on, then you'll have to run the acc lead to the battery and put a switch on it. make sure you don't switch the +12V lead, else you'll lose all your settings.