New Stereo/Amp Installation, Sailboat

I'm installing a new Alpine stereo in my sailboat to replace the old one. The main DVD/mp3 player installed easily, using the old connections. My attempt to add an Alpine power amp to the mix is not going so well. The first unit I purchased, I connected the amp to the neg and pos terminals of the battery and there was no signs of life at all. There is a power indicator light on top of the unit. I checked the voltage at the unit, it was 13.7V and both the fuses on the back of the unit and at the positive terminal of the battery were good. I sent it back and they sent me a new/upgraded unit (S-A32F). I connected the negative wire and when I touched the positive wire to the positive terminal on the unit, it sparked, then there was nothing. I again checked voltage and both fuses and those were all fine. The installation instructions for the unit say to connect the ground to the engine/chassis, however the battery bank I am connecting this to is powered by a solar panel and is independent from the main boat electrical system and not connected to the engine block (yet). Would this be any issue? What am I doing wrong?

Did you connect anything to the Blue or Blue/White wire of the amplifier? Or the remote terminal of the amplifier?

No, not yet, when I got the initial spark and then nothing, I figured I had done something wrong.... When trying to install the first one, I connected the blue (remote) wire to the head unit but that didn't do anything..

The initial spark and then nothing is typical. If charges the filter capacitors upon initial connection. It will not do that again till the capacitors discharge. They will not come on without having 12 volts on the remote terminal or wire.

Ok, I figured out the problem, the head unit and the amp were connected to 2 seperate battery banks and the grounds weren't connected.. once i rectified tbat, everything works fine 😀 thanks for your help 👍