Stereo system

[8gv]

To offset the parasitic drain from the yellow wire...

If the boat is kept outside consider using a small solar charger. They are $25 or less and have kept my FL boat battery alive well beyond expectations.

Be sure to wire in a fuse close to the battery just in case something unusual happens.

[brk-lnt]

Pretty much every radio you're going to find these days will need constant battery power to retain settings. This shouldn't be a practical concern, the power draw is extremely low. If you're using your boat at least every couple of weeks you'll be fine.

FWIW, I installed a Kenwood marine radio last year and have been very happy with it.

[ishoot308]

I just thought of the term for the head unit that does not require memory power. You need a radio with "non volatile memory". I believe Jensen is the only current producer of a radio that has this feature.

If you get a radio that requires memory power, check the power draw for the memory as every radio is different and I have seen test on line that show some radios have ten times the draw as others. I went through this same scenario last year with my new Bennington pontoon. Sony head units are the worst, at the least the one I have in my Bennington sucks the battery dry rather quickly. I am still looking for a decent replacement unit....

Dan

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

Pretty much every radio you're going to find these days will need constant battery power to retain settings. This shouldn't be a practical concern, the power draw is extremely low. If you're using your boat at least every couple of weeks you'll be fine.

FWIW, I installed a Kenwood marine radio last year and have been very happy with it.

Thanks.

How long have you gone between uses of the boat, i.e. battery powering the memory retention on the Kenwood? I would like to think that I would be out on the boat at least every week but I know that is probably not realistic. There will be times when two or three weeks go by.

[jeffk]

Your responses echo what I have been reading and hearing. There are not many non volatile memory units available. My current unit is a Clarion, over 10 years old, and I never had a memory loss or battery drain problem so I wasn't aware of the issue.

There is still hope that the head unit is fine and the problem is with the wiring or the amplifier. I don't think it's a speaker problem because ALL the cockpit speakers cut out at the same time. The bow speakers work fine because they are on a separate channel. It's being checked out now.

One good thing, the boat is going to be valeted so it's on a trailer. The bilge pump will not be using any power, not that it was usually needed that much anyway.

I wish I knew what an acceptable value for memory retention load was to allow me to go two or three weeks without worrying about the battery being too weak to start the boat. Then I could ask the manufacturers what their specs are.

[radiocontester]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Your responses echo what I have been reading and hearing. There are not many non volatile memory units available. My current unit is a Clarion, over 10 years old, and I never had a memory loss or battery drain problem so I wasn't aware of the issue.

There is still hope that the head unit is fine and the problem is with the wiring or the amplifier. I don't think it's a speaker problem because ALL the cockpit speakers cut out at the same time. The bow speakers work fine because they are on a separate channel. It's being checked out now.

One good thing, the boat is going to be valeted so it's on a trailer. The bilge pump will not be using any power, not that it was usually needed that much anyway.

I wish I knew what an acceptable value for memory retention load was to allow me to go two or three weeks without worrying about the battery being too weak to start the boat. Then I could ask the manufacturers what their specs are.

Which Clarion model do you have? I would look on Ebay for the same one.

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by radiocontester

Which Clarion model do you have? I would look on Ebay for the same one.

I'm not sure I would want to get a 10 to 15 year old unit that may be working but not have much life left on it and go through the hassle of getting it installed. Further, I wouldn't KNOW it if actually worked properly until it was installed. I just did a quick eBay search, none found anyway.

In addition, the current Clarion is AM/FM & Tape & CD. In those days Bluetooth and Android were not around. If the current unit works, I would live with it not doing Android support but if I am replacing it, Android for my music is a must. Clarion has an M505 unit that is interesting. The Android support isn't as complete as the Kenwood. I don't know it's memory only power draw. Just because the old Clarion gave me no problems doesn't mean the new one would be OK. I may call their customer service line.

[radiocontester]

Originally Posted by jeffk

I'm not sure I would want to get a 10 to 15 year old unit that may be working but not have much life left on it and go through the hassle of getting it installed. Further, I wouldn't KNOW it if actually worked properly until it was installed. I just did a quick eBay search, none found anyway.

In addition, the current Clarion is AM/FM & Tape & CD. In those days Bluetooth and Android were not around. If the current unit works, I would live with it not doing Android support but if I am replacing it, Android for my music is a must. Clarion has an M505 unit that is interesting. The Android support isn't as complete as the Kenwood. I don't know it's memory only power draw. Just because the old Clarion gave me no problems doesn't mean the new one would be OK. I may call their customer service line.

Good points all around, I was thinking you had a newer model (i.e. without a tape deck). Keep us posted on your search.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Thanks.

How long have you gone between uses of the boat, i.e. battery powering the memory retention on the Kenwood? I would like to think that I would be out on the boat at least every week but I know that is probably not realistic. There will be times when two or three weeks go by.

I've gone 3 weeks in the early or late parts of the season with no problems. Single battery setup, but boat is valet stored out of the water so bilge pumps don't run while I'm away.

I've also had my wife's car, also with a Kenwood radio, parked for 6 months without draining the battery,

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

I've gone 3 weeks in the early or late parts of the season with no problems. Single battery setup, but boat is valet stored out of the water so bilge pumps don't run while I'm away.

I've also had my wife's car, also with a Kenwood radio, parked for 6 months without draining the battery,

Super! THANK YOU! I have a note into Kenwood product support asking the important questions but with its excellent Android support and your good experience, Kenwood is looking to be the lead choice at this point.

That is, if I need a new head unit. I feel far more prepared if it comes to that point. When I first heard about these issues I felt it was a lose lose proposition; a serious problem with none of the information needed to make a good choice readily available.

Forum to the rescue!

[jbolty]

I have an RV and a couple other vehicles that sit a lot. Have a solar trickle charger on each to keep the battery alive.

Here's one example.

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt...ger-68692.html

[NHskier]

I had to replace a 2002-era Sony unit with a current Sony model in mid 2014. Was just at the marina today for first day of the season, cleaning etc. The unit had retained all settings over the winter.

While I wasn't thinking about Bluetooth capability at that time, I wish I had. Tried out an inexpensive Bluetooth FM transmitter I just picked up from Amazon - worked great so I'll be a happy camper music-wise this year.

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by NHskier

I had to replace a 2002-era Sony unit with a current Sony model in mid 2014. Was just at the marina today for first day of the season, cleaning etc. The unit had retained all settings over the winter.

While I wasn't thinking about Bluetooth capability at that time, I wish I had. Tried out an inexpensive Bluetooth FM transmitter I just picked up from Amazon - worked great so I'll be a happy camper music-wise this year.

Very interesting. Was the battery disconnected over the winter and on a trickle charger (usual practice) so the Sony retained settings without power?

[NHskier]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Very interesting. Was the battery disconnected over the winter and on a trickle charger (usual practice) so the Sony retained settings without power?

Winterization and storage is handled by a marina so can't be 100% sure, but I believe the batteries are disconnected during winter storage.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Super! THANK YOU! I have a note into Kenwood product support asking the important questions but with its excellent Android support and your good experience, Kenwood is looking to be the lead choice at this point.

BTW, this is the unit I bought: http://www.amazon.com/Kenwood-KMR-D3...ie=UTF8&psc=1&