Car Radio in a Boat

[NevilleT]

I am trying to install a Eurolab car radio/CD/MP3 player in a boat. Let me start by saying I drive a 59 TR 3A which is still positive Earth so I have not had much experience with radios since negative earth became popular (like in the 60s)!!!

On a boat, you want to cut off all your batteries when you go home so Memory is not an option you want to pursue. I connected up memory and + to the power supply so that when the batteries are switched on, both are switched on. The normal ground is connected to the negative circuit.

Turned it on and the display just flashes. Brought it home and connected it to a battery and it still flashes.

Incidentally, the boat has a genset and a 240 volt (this is Australia) system with 5 speakers. I am wiring the radio into four of the speakers. If anyone thinks this could be an issue, would be keen to hear your view.

Can anyone lead me down the right path.

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[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

could possibly be a demo option on the hu, but 240 volt? thats what i run at the shop i work, i dont think thats right in a boat

 

[Cabin_Pressure 10+ year member]

The radio may be in DEMO mode, read your manual. Im not famialiar with your 240v system, every boat ive dealt with was just small ski type. They all had a standard 12v system, is this a houseboat/cabin cruiser?

 

[bigaudiofanatic 10+ year member]

240v that dose not sound right h/u require 12vthe two boats i installer systems in were basically plug and play they were being feed 12v's.

 

[NevilleT]

Sorry for the confusion. Let me explain it a bit more. The boat is a 34 foot power boat. I have a 240v Onan Generator that powers a home stereo system using 5 speakers. I want to be able to use a radio without running the generator so I put in a car stereo that runs off 12 volt.

Since I did not want to duplicate speakers, I connected the car stereo to four of the 240 volt system speakers. Figured as long as I don't try to put signals from both sources (Car stereo and 240 volt stereo) through the speakers at the same time it should be OK.