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When we ran in yesterday, my wife turned off the "red switch" (the name escapes me right this second) below the center console, however, the radio did not go off like it's supposed to do. The "screen" on the radio went off, but the music kept playing. When I turned the red switch back on, the screen lit back up and the radio kept playing. I could not get the radio to turn off, even when I was hitting the on/off button. Also, my VHF went down as well during this episode. Does anyone have any suggestions on what the problem might be, as well as any suggestions on how to fix it? I suspect my "red switch" has malfunctioned (I replaced it two years) ago and has caused something to go amiss with the radio and VHF. In advance, thanks.

I assume the red switch is the battery disconnect. If there is some corrosion inside the switch it could cause a lousy connection which can result in a voltage drop. If this is the case your devices which are dependant on internal transformers, capacitors, and inductors (like radios) would stop working correctly while your devices not dependent on a set voltage (like your lights) would continue to work. I would try to jump the switch with a wire and see if your radios start to work again. If they do, you know its the switch. If they don't, your problem could be in the fuse box or the battery. Checking your voltage at the radios and the continuity of the switch with a voltmeter can also determine if this is the problem or not.

My radio did that after I hooked up a amplified subwoofer to it. I'll turn off the switch and all the lights go off but music still plays, it will turn off about 5-10 seconds after I turn the switch to off. The only thing I can think of is that the amplifier still has some "juice" in it. I have checked voltage after this and everything is fine......I have just let it be.

double post

Unfortunately mine just keeps going (until I took the lead off the battery). I think the red switch I am thinking of is called the "Perko" switch. It's too nasty to climb in there right now to get the correct name. I do have a wire that runs to the battery that keeps the "memory" going, etc., I don't know if it's somehow getting too juiced, etc. I hate to take the radio out, etc. to figure it out. I was hoping there was a quick solution, which if the perko switch is bad and it's allowing too much juice, that may be the problem.

Perko makes battery switches. If you get down and turn it on and off about 20 times you might can knock any corrosion off if that is what is causing your problem.

As for the radio turning off 5 -10 seconds afterward... that is due to the capacitors in the subwoofer amp backfeeding through the radio until they are discharged. Many subwoofers will use a big capacitor to prevent the battery from draining when the sub hits hard.

Your problem is the battery switch is likely shot. Saltwater and DC voltage can be really destructive to metals. I had a similar problem last year with my VHF radio. Ended up that a connector in between my fuse and the radio had managed to get some salt in it and degraded to nearly nothing. Ended up completely rewiring my boat by the time I was done looking for the corrosion.

Thanks UGADAWG: I sure hope I don't have to rewire my whole boat, but knowing my luck, that will be the path we head down.....