Stereo off ACC vs Key

[Bigghauss]

Folks,
First time posting. 2014 220S with premium sound. I've noticed that my stereo only powers up when key is 'ON'. My previous boat we had the stereo wired into an 'ACC' switch so I wouldn't have to full with the Key to listen to stereo. I have multiple open ACC switches on my boat and would like to swing power signal over to that switch. I also would like to ensure the amp is running off of the deep cycle battery, but can't tell with this dual switch. It's either On, or Both, which doesn't make sense.

Anybody have any thoughts on this setup??? Please educate me on the Cobalt setup here.

Take care all!
Bigghauss

[AsLan7]

Folks,
First time posting. 2014 220S with premium sound. I've noticed that my stereo only powers up when key is 'ON'. My previous boat we had the stereo wired into an 'ACC' switch so I wouldn't have to full with the Key to listen to stereo. I have multiple open ACC switches on my boat and would like to swing power signal over to that switch. I also would like to ensure the amp is running off of the deep cycle battery, but can't tell with this dual switch. It's either On, or Both, which doesn't make sense.

Anybody have any thoughts on this setup??? Please educate me on the Cobalt setup here.

Take care all!
Bigghauss

.
Hey welcome to the Cobaltchat forum BH. So glad you found us!

You normally don’t want to leave the key in the “ON” position as this will run up the engine hours without the engine running.

On our 2005 boat, you turn the key to the left— “accessory” position which allows the stereo to play without racking up engine hours.

Cobalt may have changed this for newer 2014 models but others will chime in on that. It’s a simple wire swap on your ignition switch. Sounds like this may be your case. Can you see the back of your ignition switch under the dash?

You can determine which battery is connected to the “ON” battery switch position by simply unhooking one of your battery positive terminals. The battery still providing power is the one connected to the “ON” position. (vs. the BOTH position)

Any pics???

Again, welcome aboard mate!

.

[Bigghauss]

Thanks for the ideas. No, I hadn't tried turning the key back to the left as it didn't occur to me. However, I still don't like that idea because every time I go from running to parking, the music will always be powered off as I pass through 'OFF' on the key itself. We will always have to start our playlist and stuff all over again. This seems like such a simple layout issue, why would Cobalt run it this way????

I guess then I'll just need to figure out which ACC switch on the panel is always HOT when the master switch is on, and the corresponding battery it goes to. Ideally the deep cycle, and not the start battery. I'm wondering, would one of those ACC switches be always hot regardless of master switch position??

But that as well confuses me as this battery switch doesn't make sense to me what is happening. Ie: 'ON' or Both. On being only one battery...which I 'Think' would be the deep cycle, and 'BOTH' being both starter and deep cycle??? So no real way to isolate starter battery then?

Thanks!

[tgrace98]

On my R7 I do not even have to have the key to power on the stereo. I just flip the battery switch to on or both and hit the power button on the stereo. The batteries in mine are identical. So I just run the boat or stereo in on. And if I have a situation where it dies I will just flip it to both so I can start the boat still.

[ajcampen]

Thanks for the ideas. No, I hadn't tried turning the key back to the left as it didn't occur to me. However, I still don't like that idea because every time I go from running to parking, the music will always be powered off as I pass through 'OFF' on the key itself. We will always have to start our playlist and stuff all over again. This seems like such a simple layout issue, why would Cobalt run it this way????

I guess then I'll just need to figure out which ACC switch on the panel is always HOT when the master switch is on, and the corresponding battery it goes to. Ideally the deep cycle, and not the start battery. I'm wondering, would one of those ACC switches be always hot regardless of master switch position??

But that as well confuses me as this battery switch doesn't make sense to me what is happening. Ie: 'ON' or Both. On being only one battery...which I 'Think' would be the deep cycle, and 'BOTH' being both starter and deep cycle??? So no real way to isolate starter battery then?

Thanks!

I have a 2014 220s and love it.

I turn the key to the left and that allows the stereo to be on. When I turn the boat off I go directly from the key in the right position to left. The stereo doesn't die as you feared as it continues to play normally. It will not solve the problem of having to have the key in, but you can probably have it rewired to the switch.

On the switch, you run it on on and the switch decides which battery to draw from and which to charge. No idea how it does it but it is a great system. The "both" position is if you drain the batteries, you switch it to that and it is supposed to have enough when drawing on the last bit of both batteries to get the boat going.

Pictures please of that beauty you have.

[Bigghauss]

Ok. Maybe then I just need to spend more time on it. My previous boat I wired directly to an ACC switch on the dash, and totally preferred having that direct control over the stereo system.

I'll try to get some pics!

[AsLan7]

Ok. Maybe then I just need to spend more time on it. My previous boat I wired directly to an ACC switch on the dash, and totally preferred having that direct control over the stereo system.

I'll try to get some pics!

.
Yes, like AJC mentioned, just turn the key quickly to the left from ON. Bluetooth stays connected and song keeps playing. If it does cutout for a second, it will still pick up where it left off automatically. Starting the engine does interrupt it though.

. Otherwise a new rewire is in order to connect to the accessory switch if the above is too irritating. (first world problem).

.

[Bigghauss]

I had a real interesting conversation with Cobalt today and this various subject. He shared that over the years, Cobalt has had stereo power signal move from being wired to the key to having its own accessory switch. The primary reason they switched to an ACC switch is that owners complained during high stop/start usage, everybody got tired of the stereo cutting out. So they moved wiring over to an ACC switch to solve this issue. But for reference, Cobalt has wired it both ways over the years.

Another side topic: They shared with me that for my genre/year of boat ('14 220s) the battery switch is not at all used as I understood. According to them, when battery in "ON" ALL services run off #1 battery (house, starter, etc), and #2 is merely sitting idle. Should #1 discharge, the "Connected" position merely brings #2 online to provide energy in addition to what remains on #1. Kinda of odd, and they readily admit that it has changed over the years and depends on models, but for mine specific, this is the case.

Learning alot about my boat for sure!!!

[jhnmdahl]

Bighauss, thanks for sharing what you’ve learned

[AsLan7]

Bighauss, thanks for sharing what you’ve learned

+1.

[Bigghauss]

So I looked at my boat this weekend. You are all right that a key turn to the left powers up the stereo and system. I still want to move it over to an open accessory switch and it appears to be a pretty straightforward deal. I just need to locate that stereo signal wire from the key and move it over to the switch. Does anybody have any schematics on the key lugs to give me an idea which one might be the stereo feed?

I'm also assuming that cobalt ran that feed, down through the breaker labeled 'stereo' and then over to the head unit itself. Does that sound right?

You all see any concerns with me moving this wire over? Accessory switch should be able to send that signal to the head unit right?

[Driller]

So I looked at my boat this weekend. You are all right that a key turn to the left powers up the stereo and system. I still want to move it over to an open accessory switch and it appears to be a pretty straightforward deal. I just need to locate that stereo signal wire from the key and move it over to the switch. Does anybody have any schematics on the key lugs to give me an idea which one might be the stereo feed?

I'm also assuming that cobalt ran that feed, down through the breaker labeled 'stereo' and then over to the head unit itself. Does that sound right?

You all see any concerns with me moving this wire over? Accessory switch should be able to send that signal to the head unit right?

I hooked my chart plotter up to an extra pole on one of the accessory breakers what is hot as soon as I turn the Perko on. Put a 3 amp fuse inline. Works great and I don't have to worry about reboots every time I turn the key on/off.

[Bfun220]

I did the same with my chart plotter, LED cupholders and speaker rings.

[SAB220]

2004 220

So for a older boat what are my choices?

All I have is On and Start at the key. Currently the new Rockford system only goes on with the key in the On position. Do I replace the key assembly or better place a switch on the boat with maybe a LED light and inline fuse that tell me when the the radio is On. I assume the fuse panel is under the dash. I have pop-out fuses for accessories

[Big Block Power]

My stereo goes on with the key in acc,