What causes my stereo to cut out?????

[aggiehorsepower]

On my 2001 SAN I have 1 600w amp running two sony xplode 12" subs, another 600w amp running 4 kicker 6 and 1/2" tower speakers, and another 150w amp running 4 6 and 1/2" interior speakers. When I bought the boat a year ago it had 2 deep cycle batteries and I am running the same batteries. When I turn the volume up on the head unit to approximately 18 all of the speakers begin to cut out. I thought maybe the batteries may be low so when I got back to the house I charged both batteries all night. The next day went back on the water and it was doing the same thing except I could get the volume to approximately 21 before the speakers began to cut out. Could the batteries be weak? Could my wire not be big enough? I need some help all the speakers sound clear when they do not cut out.

Thanks
Scott

[EarmarkMarine]

Scott,
If you are deep cycling your batteries you may need a larger capacity of charger than a maintenance charger in order to properly exercise and desulfate the batteries. Just because you charged the batteries doesn't mean they hold that charge. You should have those load tested. Also, an emergency garage (low/high/boost) charger will ruin batteries. Either under or overcharging is destructive. You should have a dual-bank multi-stage smart charger with the current capacity correctly matched to the collective amp/hours of your batteries.
If you have 1000 watts of 'honest' Class AB amplification and a relatively short supply run then you need an absolute bare minumum of 2-gauge cable before it is divided into smaller extensions from the distribution blocks to the individual amplifiers.
Amplifiers generally shut down due to thermal or voltage. If all amplifiers shut down nearly at the same time it would appear to be a voltage problem.

David
Earmark Marine

[aggiehorsepower]

My batteries are deep cycle. What type of charger would you recomend and where can I buy one at. When it comes to voltage it is like a different language to me haha. Not all the amps cut out at the same time it will usually only be one at a time however it varies which one will cut out. Is load testing just basically taking the battery to the local parts house and have them check it out?

Thanks
Scott

[EarmarkMarine]

Scott,
As mentioned before the cause is usually low voltage or thermal or a combination of the two. Amplifiers are less efficient in dissipating heat at a lower supply voltage. And amplifiers have different thresholds for both voltage and thermal shutdown. To isolate voltage as the cause you have to measure the voltage at the primary terminals of the amplifier(s) at the time it shuts down. Yes, get the batteries load tested at your local Sears Auto Center or automotives parts house. We do chargers bases on the collective amp/hour capacity of your batteries. So that is essential information to have.

David
Earmark Marine

[aggiehorsepower]

Ok the batteries that I have in the boat are two different ones and they look pretty old. I was just gonna go ahead and get 2 new ones. What kind would you suggest to push enough voltage?

[lucky7t]

I dont remember part numbers but I installed two Interstate batteries. They were the same batteries that the post office people use. They have vibration resistance and are excellent. I think they were 800 or 1000 cold cranking amps. You might call Interstate batteries in your area and ask them about a military grade or the same batteries the supply for the poastal worker trucks. These are great batteries. I also installed them in our new boat as well.

larry at correct craft recommended these to me about 4 years ago. You might call correct craft and ask for Larry Shae

[lucky7t]

I got the part number from Interstate

C78DT-XHD

These are great batteries

[core-rider]

The Interstate site isn't that great and doesn't tell if the C78DT-XHD is a deep cycle battery or not, but I'm guessing not as it is a commercial automotive battery. You will need deep cycle batteries to hold up to the stereo draining the batteries down while not being charged. Look at their marine batteries here... http://www.interstatebatteries.com/c...o/marine_f.asp
Most likely the SRM-24 will be a direct replacement for what you have, but the SRM-27 or SRM-29 will work as well and give you a bit more capacity if you can fit them in the space provided.

Word to the wise, my local Interstate Battery is about $10-15 higher than the Gander Mountain down the street from them for the same battery. If you have a Gander Mountain close by it may be worth it to check prices. I mentioned this the my Interstate store and they didn't really give a flip, but I had to buy from them cause Gander was out of the SRM-27 at the time I was buying.

[TX-Foilhead]

I got a pair of SRM-27's from Sams for about $75 each last year. Cheapest I could find.

[TxJole]

Being a fisherman too, I keep up with battery warranties and most have changed to 6 months on anything marine. I do Duralast from autozone they still carry a 3 year warranty.

[Full-Force]

Does it clip at high volumes when the boat is running? If not, then its more than likely low voltage.