Kicker KM654 LED Speaker Install

[tpayner19]

I had initially posted onto an older thread on LED speakers and decided to start my own. I purchased 2 sets of the Kicker KM654 with LED lights for my 2004 Super Sport Nautique. I know what I need to do for the speaker install as far as taking the combing pads off and cutting out the mesh and creating a tube to secure the speakers. At this point I am just installing the 4 speakers in the main seating area, the bow will be done later (when I get the $ for another pair).

My questions are about the LEDs. Today I purchased the remote for full function of the system. The questions I have so far before I get into tearing things apart are:

1. How much RGB wire will I need (I plan on running extra to the front for the future bow speakers)?
2. What have others used to splice off of the main RGB wire to the LED speaker connection?
3. What power lines in the boat were used for the power (and where did you connect)?
4. With a V-Drive, can I connect to a power source in the engine compartment and go in both directions from the back (eliminating the need to run wire under the front somehow)?
5. Does anyone have pics of their connections, I'm new to this type install?

Thanks again for any and all help.

Todd

[tpayner19]

I still need to install the LED wiring and the bow speakers. I will update when I get that done.

I started with replacing the speaker in the kick panel under the steering wheel. It was a direct replacement of the old with the new. Removed the panel, old speaker, screwed in new, connected and replaced.

I then moved to the right side combing pad. There were about 7 nuts with a lock washer and larger washer on each one. I forgot to take pics of this pad when I removed it. The nut in the far back needed to be accessed from the rear storage/ballast compartment. After removing the 4 screws holding the speaker on, there are 2 screws holding the PVC ring to the combing pad. Remove those and pop the ring out. Remove the staples from the piping and then pull the mesh off of the ring (it is glued in place).

Screw the PVC ring back in place. I used the mounting brackets that came with the speakers however they needed to be bent to fit correctly. I placed the speaker in the ring and marked the screw holes. Removed the speaker and flattened the bracket, marked them and bent to the correct alignment. Then screwed into place on the inside of the PVC ring. I forgot to take pics of these but will update when I do the bow speakers.

The left side pad is large and I have included pics of the location of the bolt holes. I removed the entire rear seat to allow for easier access (I recommend). This pad is VERY large and flexes making it easier to lift and move with a 2nd person. The removal and install is the same as described above. Reinstall, and connect.

My wife already thinks the 4 new are too loud and doesn't think I need the bow speakers (HAAAAA).

[tpayner19]

Finally getting to an update. I got the first 4 speakers wired for full LED function. I located the shower connection in the engine compartment (rear) on the starboard side stringer. The first pic show the connection and the second pic shows the general location. I use the shower connection as my 12v power source. I can control the power to the LEDs from 2 sources, the shower switch and the LED controller.

The wires for the shower are orange with black strip and solid black. I found the plastic conduit that contains the wires behind the kick panel. They are in their own conduit the runs down below floor on the left side behind the kick panel. I cut the wires there and connected the red and black power wires for the LED controller. From there I connected the RGB 4-wire (shown in the first pic in the post above) and 2 sections, 1 for the starboard side and 1 for the port side. For the starboard side, I ran it under the gunnel back to the rear speaker and connected it, with a splice up to the kick panel speaker, spliced into it and continued it to the starboard bow speaker (tied off for future installation. For the port side, I ran 1 long RGB 4-wire all the way around the starboard side, around the back seat (following other wires) to the port side and began splicing into the speakers along the way to the port bow speaker (again tied off for future install).

I don't know how others have run their wires, but this made the most sense to me. Again, this install was on an '04 Super Sport with no ballast tanks in the rear making the running of the wire around the back much easier. I also removed the rear seat for ease of wiring.

[tpayner19]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwro...ature=youtu.be