Few questions regarding installation of new HU

[glemay]

Well, I finally got my new HU for my boat. It's a Pioneer DEH-P4700MP. When installing it, I read that you run the ground wire to a metal part of the car or in my case boat. But why couldn't I just run the ground wire or negative to the negative terminal on my battery?

Thanks

Gerald

[audiobliss]

You can. I think the point is that it's easier to just find some bare metal close to your HU and use that as a ground. That's what I think, at least. Someone else'll let me know soon enough if I'm wrong.

[neomagus00]

nope, that's it, the chassis of the car is set up as a convienent ground, and i'll assume boats are set up the same way. it's probably better to go straight to the battery.

[glemay]

Thanks guys. Now what about the ACC. wire, were do I put that, I have no ACC switch on my ignition? Could I run it to a regular toggle switch or can I just forget about it?

Thanks

Gerald

[neomagus00]

forgetting about it would be a bad idea. you can run a toggle switch if you like, but do you not have a key of any sort on the boat? if you do, you can splice into the appropriate wire and run that to the HU. if not, i guess the toggle is your only option.

[Josh]

So you don't have a keyed switch on your boat? If you do it should be: off...ignition...start. Right?

[glemay]

Josh,

Sorry, I wasn't thinking, yeah I got the ignition switch that you are talking about but no ACC switch. But if I run the wire to the ignition the radio will only work if the ignition is on right?

Thanks

Gerald

[neomagus00]

yep. +12V still goes to battery, ACC lead goes to ignition's 'on' position.

[glemay]

neomagus00,

So what can I do if I want to run the radio without the ignition on? What would happen if I ran the ACC wire to the battery?

Thanks

[neomagus00]

if you ran the acc wire to the battery, the HU would never turn off. if you run the lead to the key, though, there should be a point where the boat's electronics are on but the engine is not; if such a point exists, you can wire the acc lead to the proper ignition wire. if such a point does not exist, i.e. when the electronics are on, the engine's on, then you'll have to run the acc lead to the battery and put a switch on it. make sure you don't switch the +12V lead, else you'll lose all your settings.