HELP with marine stereo

el Toro · Jul-29-2006, 03:22 PM

OK I just got a Sony CDX-F50M stereo and took to installing it. I installed it in a weatherproof enclosure from West Marine. I lined up all the colored wires and wired em up for hot and ground, and two speakers. Then I go to plug the juice into my fuse panel. Red on the hot side and black on the ground side, with a good fuse. Attatch it all and viola! NOTHING. No power or anything on the display of the head unit. Trace up the wire with my test lamp and I have good power going all the way into the unit. But seemingly no juice at the head unit.

Now here is where it makes me feel really stupid. Can I just not figure out where the on button is? I read all though the owners manual and nowhere does it tell you where the power switch is. It is not obvious (like pushing or rotating the volume knob) either. It has an off switch but no on. Which leads me to believe that it is supposed to come on automatically and then you have to turn it off since it is not wired to the accessory setting on the key. I also tried to feed it a CD to make it come on. No dice.

I also tried hitting the reset buton like the manual said to. Same result.

Anyone out there good at this shit?

michael · Jul-29-2006, 03:38 PM

Two things,

First, check to see if there is a fuse on the back of the unit. If it is there, is it good?

Second, I have a Sony marine stereo and it does not have an ON switch/button, and to turn it on you have to hit the "Source" button.

Try these out and let us know what happens.

zigzag · Jul-29-2006, 03:46 PM

Disconnect the power supply and hit the reset button.Verify the red and black as which is ground and which is hot or plus.im sure you have done all this butttt.Fuse good ?? is it an in line if so test the power on the hot or plus line after the fuse.MI does Pesoes.Good luck

el Toro · Jul-29-2006, 05:10 PM

Done all of the above. Fuse is good. No luck.

FishWiz · Jul-29-2006, 09:00 PM

Takes two power wires on most of these stereos now. One to a full time power lead, and the other to an accessory lead. If you don't hook up the full time power lead (needed to keep the station presets and time from relying on internal short term battery backup), stereo will not work on many models. Probably the same wire Micah mentioned.

jimmycinla · Jul-29-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishWiz

Takes two power wires on most of these stereos now. One to a full time power lead, and the other to an accessory lead. If you don't hook up the full time power lead (needed to keep the station presets and time from relying on internal short term battery backup), stereo will not work on many models. Probably the same wire Micah mentioned.

Yes. ^^^^^^

Always hook the ground(black)first.

On the F50-M:

Yellow wire is the constant power wire. (always powered)

Red wire is the accessory wire(powered when ignition key is turned on)
If you don't have a ignition triggered spot available, power it directly as you did with the yellow. If you don't get power then, you prob got a bad unit.

Also, remember with them both constantly powered you need to remember to turn it off, 'cause the key wont, or you'll drain the battery.

-j-

Az.monkey · Jul-30-2006, 09:41 AM

Call Tory at ES Customs 619-540-6841, He does custom boxes for subs, custum stereo systems and the whole 9 yards for cars trucks RV's and boats
he knows his shiznit...
Tell him karl sent ya, this goes for everybody and his prices are great

el Toro · Jul-31-2006, 08:49 AM

I figured it out on Sat about an hour after making this post and its taken me until now to respong. FishWiz and Jimmycinla ended up being spot on. It was that damn Yellow wire. I had erroneously figured that since I did not want the unit wired to acc setting on the key's hot wire, that I did not need to hook up the yellow. WRONG. It need constant power. The other thing that had me confused is that my waterproof enclosure did not have a yellow wire coming out of the back of it so I couln't match colors and thought it was unnecessary. Once it dawned on me to tap that yellow wire in with my hot lead inside the box, it worked like a charm. The fresking directions that came from Sony were horrible. Very vague. Oh well, it's done and I'm stoked, we gots tunes now!

T-Bro · Aug-02-2006, 03:14 PM

Nate,

Do you have any pic of the installation? I have been thinking about adding tunes to my 18' Parker and am leaning towards mounting a marine amp inside the console, and wiring it to my i-pod. No radio, but 4,500 songs will keep me happy. I already have a VHF flushmounted in the console, so I dont think I have enough room to mount a CD-Receiver in the dash as well.

Did you cut into the console and mount speakers? I have been thinking about wiring under the gunwales and mounting some BOSE environmental speaker in there own cabinets.

Appreciate your help.

T-Bro

el Toro · Aug-02-2006, 03:41 PM

Sorry, no pics. I'm of the sort where if I can avoid cutting any hole in my boat I will. I installed the head unit inside a weather proof box that they sell at West Marine. Then I mounted that inside the center console (not on the dash), so it has two elements protecting it from water. Then I got a pair of weather proof box speakers also from WM. They are compact, rectangular in shape, and have thier own mounting bar. I mounted those on my T top. I specifically used these kinds of speakers so I would not need to cut any holes in the console for the flush mount type. I can also hook the Ipod directly to my head unit. Plus I have am/fm for listening to ball games and cd player if I'm so inclined.

You might be able to mount and wire an amp into the same type of box if it the amp is small enough. Or you could easily make your own waterproof box to mount it in. Maybe something out of Starboard and sealed with 5200. With an access door using stainless hinges, a rubber gasket and a stainless clasp to lock it tight. Drill some small holes in the back of the box for the wiring and seal back up with 5200. Then you could probably mount the box wherever you wanted.

Good luck.