Voltage Issue

Things look pretty clean, a small wire brush and some solvent should work, or thread a bolt on and off several times. I don't think you will need to replace the gauge.

I put that conductive grease on all of the connections I am cleaning. I will try to clean them today and let everyone know how it goes. I can't wait till everything is in tip top shape!

P71_CrownVic wrote: I'm going to re-ask this question here since it got lost in the stereo thread we saw recently: Since we're on the topic of voltage, is it bad when the sub woofer hits that the needles of the gauges jump all over the place? Is that indicative that I may need a higher amp alternator?

Not really. It's the amp hours you need to be concerned about. Just like your service to your house,it's the average. Do you have a problem maintaining a charge in the battery?

To the original post; Not Given, you'll probably pick up a little voltage with each thing you clean, running the motor will bring it up a couple of volts as well. I would start at the battery connection first, that should be an easy 1/4 volt. The breakers would be next and don't forget to clean or change the bulbs and their sockets.

A second battery for the amps should fix that.   Basically your giving the amp a seperate resivoir to use so it won't pull down the voltage on the house battery. A Perko switch would allow you to seperate the 2 batteries when your parked to save the starting battery, an ACR (auto combing relay) would do it without you having to flip the switch. Upgrading the alternator would give you addition amps to use for the stero and the battery charging, but is probably the most expensive way to go about it.

I would try the battery first, check you battery voltage at the beginning and the end of the day. If batteries are staying charged your good, if they aren't then an onboard charging system will top them off and prolong their life. I don't think you really need most of that stuff unless you upgrade further. I ran 1000 watts off one battery for a couple of months with no issues as long as I put it on the charger at the end of the day. After adding all that and a 105 amp alternator it takes 10 minutes to top off the batteries at the end of the day and I can sit and listen for at least 8 hours then start the boat.   My stereo is still growing into all that, I'll be doubling the power this winter and adding tower speakers.

So anyways, I cleaned the connections and it did not help. What I did figure out were two things.

On the positive lead to the voltage gauge on my dash, there are 3 wires.

-one coming from the bus
-one going to the little horn thingy that beeps at me
-a thick one that I can't figure out

If I only attach the wire coming from the bus, the voltage will read 12 volts. If I attach either of the other 2 wires to that screw, it drops the volts by 1.8. Anyone have any ideas?

Bri892001 wrote: Also, is the stereo the only thing that messes with your gauges? Or will the horn, lights, blower or bilge pump have any impact?

I assume this question was for me.

When using various electronic equipment (blower, bilge, nav lights, etc), when they get turned on, the gauges move ever so slightly.

The same exact thing happens when I turn the nav lights (or another accessory) on in my Grandma's 2004 Bayliner. The needles move maybe 1/2 a needles width.

I'm sure it's nothing major...

I will back up Mark (lewy2001). It's been well documented about the undersized wiring. Doing a search will bring up plenty of info.