WTF - Radio Powered w/ Neg Disconnected

[witzgall]

Hi all;

One of my weekend projects was to replace the VHF coax inside the boat. When I did so, I fired up the radio, and it powered, but no sound came out. All operations looked normal, but no sound. Transmitted fine too. THe radio is less than a year old.

So later, I am doing project # 2, which is relocating the CD stereo player. In hooking up the power leads, I disconnected the negative return lead to the VHF, and Huh, it was still powered.

How can this happen? Could the no sound out of radio be related?

I brought the radio home and will try connecting it to a battery outside of the boat to see what happens. Strange things are afoot!

Chris