Odd Stereo Problem

[IrishZit]

I have what I think is an odd stereo problem. When I turn on the stereo, I get good fish attracting sounds for about 15 minutes and then it starts to intermittently cut out. When I look at the display it’s flashing. I’m almost certain it’s hooked up to my trolling motor batteries, which are always fully charged. What’s odd is that if I fire up the motor and get the RPM’s up, it seem to bring the battery back to life.

I’m not really sure where to start troubleshooting.

Thanks,

Sully

[Farley]

Follow the wires from the back of the stereo to find out for certian where the wires lead to. Unless your big motor has an alternator and the stereo is hooked up to the same battery, it has nothing to do with the big motor, and I dont think I've ever seen a boat motor with an alternator. It could be just a corroted connector. If it isnt, try bringing an extra battery along (doesnt have to be a deep cycle) and hook up the stereo to that and see if it works better. Seems like your trolling motor is somehow drawing power away from the stereo. Or try seperating the connectors from the trolling motor and stereo with a rubber or plastic washer.

[Norsky]

many outboards have alternators to charge the starting battery.

[IrishZit]

Further research revealed that my stereo is hooked up to the starting battery. The display starts to flash when it cuts out and gets down to about 11 volts. I wonder if I just need to buy a new battery. That would be an easy fix.

Thanks so much for the help.

Sully

[Farley]

It could just be the battery but I would still hook it up to a different battery and run the radio for a half hour or so to make sure that's what it is. If it is the stereo itself, then there is no need to buy a new battery, just a new stereo. If you have nothing else on that battery besides the motor and the stereo, the stereo shouldnt drain that much power from the battery, at least not in 15 minutes.

A easy fix isnt always a permanant fix.

[Swamp Scooter]

Or are the wires too thin and you are losing a lot as it draws? Just a thought.

[Farley]

Also, this may be a long shot, but if you have a owners manual for the stereo, look in there to see what it means when the display flashes.

[IrishZit]

I just put my buddies battery on it and it did the same thing. I will pull the receiver and look at the connections.

It's odd that the connections would be good enough to work for about 15 minutes and go to heck after that.

Sully

[McGurk]

couple of questions...

Is this a new install or an existing install and a new problem?

is there any additional work that has been done electrically/mechanically at about the same time?

any chance of pinched/cut/spliced wires at any point between the battery and fuse and radio?

is the 11 volt check point at the radio or at the battery?

small size wire causes heat which causes voltage drops over long (as short as 10 feet) runs of wire. new, large-wattage stereos sold over the counter need larger amperage than some existing leads of wire allow.

if the 11 volts is at the radio, also check at the battery. if that is also 11 volts disconnect only the radio and leave all else and recheck. if that is still 11 volts (engine not running) it is the battery or another issue altogether with another component.

if the battery reads 13+ volts and the radio reads 11 volts check the wire and the connections of the fuse and radio.

these are important things for troubleshooting. there are a lot of things going on in a somewhat electrically-unfriendly environment. these tips can be used for types of things including depth finders, boat lights and accesories, and trailer lights.

Good Luck!!!

[IrishZit]

I didn't do a new install and really haven't changed anything lately.

When I reference 11 volts, that is the reading I get off my depthfinder and I don't know where it's reading it from.

I charged the battery up to 14.3 volts. I turned on the sonar and radio and it drained to 12 volts in about 5 minutes. I think my battery is probably bad.

Thanks so much for the help.

Sully