Wiring a stereo

[Nisswaguy]

I tried a search already but couldn't come up with what I'm looking for. My question is, what does it take (in terms of wiring) to add a car stereo to an existing wheelhouse? The wheelhouse runs on 12v only. If I have a stereo, some speakers and speaker wires, how do I connect it to the battery? Thanks in advance for any help.

[bobbymalone]

not my area of expertise, but you'll at least need to get a wiring harness that plugs into the back of the stereo with leads for speakers, power, ground, etc. Then it's as easy as running wires to the battery and the speakers. don't forget a fuse.

[low277]

You are going to need a positive and ground from the battery to the stereo. You should have a fuse in the positive lead. The speaker wires run from each speaker to the stereo.

You might be able to google the brand and model of your stereo to find the specific wiring diagram for it, if you don't currently have it.

[Faster]

It's pretty easy. Read over the manual to verify the correct colors but you'll need to connect:

-Constant power (Yellow)to +12V

-Switched power (Red) to +12V

-Ground (Black)

You may also want to wire the illumination wire (Orange/White?) to +12V so the display lights up.

Connect a couple speakers and you'll have sound.

Speaker wire: solid color is positive, black stripe is negative

Left front: white

Right front: gray

Left rear: green

Right rear: violet

[B-man715]

You'll need two power wires and a ground. One that goes directy to the battery (saves your settings and stations with the radio off), and another which is labeled ACC. This needs to go to a switch, then tie into the same wire going to the battery.

The switch will let you kill the power to the radio (just like your key in a vehicle does). But the main power will save your stations and draw a tiny, tiny amount of power. Without the switch installed the display will stay lit up and drain your batteries down over a relatively short amount of time.

[Will]

On the wiring harness on the back of the stereo there will be a red wire switched + a yellow wire constant + and black - connect the red And yellow to positive on the battery (make sure that there is a fuse inline) black to negative. You can use alligator clip to connect to the battery.

Speakers are usually white and gray are front, purple and green are rear

[ratherbefishin]

Dont forget a antenna or you will hear nothing but fuzz....I got one from a old car and just have it laying in my bench, seems to be working good so far

[ratherbefishin]

Dont forget a antenna or you will hear nothing but fuzz....I got one from a old car and just have it laying in my bench, seems to be working good so far

[CrewJones]

you can get 'WIRE' antenna's on that online auction site for 5 bucks thats what i have in the boat

[Hole Hog]

B-man has a good point that you will not want to over look.The ACC wired to a switch. I just did mine this way

[Boker001]

I didn't use a switch for the ACC. I just push the power button on the stereo and it shuts off. Haven't programmed stations so don't know if I would loose them each time though.

[B-man715]

I didn't use a switch for the ACC. I just push the power button on the stereo and it shuts off. Haven't programmed stations so don't know if I would loose them each time though.

Yeah, some stereos will turn off completely with the power button. The one I have installed stays backlit unless I kill the ACC.

Your stations will stay saved reguardless if you use a switch for the ACC (if you were to want to save some).