headunit cd problem

[snomaker321]

i just installed my sony headunit in my boat and im having a weird problem. it seems to play the radio fine but cds will randomly cut in and out. the headunit seems to shut off and turn back on. Did I mess up or is there a problem with my stereo.

It is installed at a 32* angle, instructions say up to 45* but could this be the problem, it was my first thought. thanks

 

[snomaker321]

mind, it happens whenever i turn the volume above 21. the radio just cuts out. Is the battery just not giving it enough power? There is no speaker clipping at that level.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

is there a way you can check the actual voltage getting to the head unit when it skips? maybe pull it out of the mounting hole and use a volt meter to probe the pos and ground pins and see what its reading when you turn it up?

 

[snomaker321]

i should be able to just probe where the wires connect to each other instead on the headunit, right? I think it might be easier.

Looking around online, I think i might need bigger ground and/or power wires as i assume this headunit uses more power than the nearly 20 year old one its replacing

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

thats likely, but i would also try pulling it out and operating the unit where its level and see if it cuts out then?

 

[snomaker321]

12.5v at battery, only 11.5 or so by the time it reaches the headunit. I turn up the stereo and it'll cut out when the voltage drops to about 10v. Sounds like I need bigger wiring, plus it should help to have the engine running. thanks for the help

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

yep, sounds like the battery may be getting weak too, you should have 12.6v while the battery is at rest (engine not running) because there are 6 cells in a 12v battery and each cell is designed to hold 2.1v (2.1v x 6cells = 12.6v). 12.5v is not too far off though so i would check the voltage with the engine running and maybe check for resistance in the ground going from the stereo to the chassis (or whatever you groung to in a boat?) the answer may be simpler than needing to install bigger cables, but going bigger couldnt hurt

 

[snomaker321]

yep, sounds like the battery may be getting weak too, you should have 12.6v while the battery is at rest (engine not running) because there are 6 cells in a 12v battery and each cell is designed to hold 2.1v (2.1v x 6cells = 12.6v). 12.5v is not too far off though so i would check the voltage with the engine running and maybe check for resistance in the ground going from the stereo to the chassis (or whatever you groung to in a boat?) the answer may be simpler than needing to install bigger cables, but going bigger couldnt hurt

i was using an analog multimeter, so those voltages are approximate. I honestly dont know what the ground in the boat is, i was just using the wiring already in place for the stereo. I figured a car puts out closer to to 14v running, so why wouldnt a boat? so in theory it would start higher so the drop in voltage wouldnt affect it as much. Could resistance in the ground cause the voltage drop, i though it was from using wire that was too small.

The current wiring is only awg 14. I was gonna replace it with awg 10.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

what size (AWG) are the wires on the back of the head unit pigtail? theyre probably 18-16 awg. so if youre running 14 awg already you should have plenty of power as far as wiring goes. how old is this boat? it seems i remember reading something 4X4 fun posted about boats grounding........... here it is http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80711
but now i see that you started that thread too, so you already know whats in there haha. the only other things i can think of are maybe wire connections (you soldered and shrink wrapped them didnt you?) and the condition of the battery cables going to the engine (all the grounds should have good continuity from the negative post on the battery to the place where they are fastened, be it the block, part of the hull, etc.) how are the battery terminal ends, are they clean and free of corrosion or are they replacement clamp on styles that are prone to bad connection? if you could get some pics up that would be helpful but ill keep giving you ideas as long as you keep trying to resolve this issue.