Alternator Whine
09-26-2006, 06:28 PM
#1
0 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4
Alternator Whine
Hi. I'd appreciate some input with regard to isolating alternator whine.
As for the install I performed, let me tell you what I believe I have done correctly.
- grounded deck to body, not the harness ground
- rca's running down the centre of car
- (running down driver side) 4 ga power wire routed to unfused dist block in trunk.
- power split via 4 ga to 2 amps (one for speakers - one for sub)
- 6 ga grounds from amps routed to unfused block
- final ground crimped with ring and bolted to sanded part of chasis (have tried various alternate locations wih no change in whine).
The only thing I suspect is trying other RCA's. The ones I used are new, twisted, and sheilded. Not sure what other options I may have if this doesn't work.
Suggestions welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!
As for the install I performed, let me tell you what I believe I have done correctly.
- grounded deck to body, not the harness ground
- rca's running down the centre of car
- (running down driver side) 4 ga power wire routed to unfused dist block in trunk.
- power split via 4 ga to 2 amps (one for speakers - one for sub)
- 6 ga grounds from amps routed to unfused block
- final ground crimped with ring and bolted to sanded part of chasis (have tried various alternate locations wih no change in whine).
The only thing I suspect is trying other RCA's. The ones I used are new, twisted, and sheilded. Not sure what other options I may have if this doesn't work.
Suggestions welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!
09-26-2006, 07:03 PM
#2
Originally Posted by MMII
- 6 ga grounds from amps routed to unfused block
- final ground crimped with ring and bolted to sanded part of chasis (have tried various alternate locations wih no change in whine).
- final ground crimped with ring and bolted to sanded part of chasis (have tried various alternate locations wih no change in whine).
i would have the grounds the same size as your power wire, and maybe ground each amp separately and see what the result is.
i run my rca`s along side with my power leads and so far have encountered any problems. to me thats a bit of an urban legend, but to each his own.
09-26-2006, 08:14 PM
#3
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by mayhem
if i read this right you have the grounds (6ga) to a block and then grounded to the chassis?
i would have the grounds the same size as your power wire, and maybe ground each amp separately and see what the result is.
i would have the grounds the same size as your power wire, and maybe ground each amp separately and see what the result is.
The 4ga power wire running into the power block is where the 4ga ends.
The problem I encountered was, I couldn't find any terminal rings big enough to accept a 4ga wire with a small enough ring to connect to the amps.
So... I sent 4ga to the power block, split the block with 6ga wire to the amps, and continued with 6ga grounds from the amps to another block.
It was actually my intention to keep the size uniform throughout initially, but without a ring small enough to connect a 4 ga wire my only other option at that point was to try connecting to the amps without a terminal ring, but there's so much wire in 4ga that I couldn't tighten it down, so I stepped it down a notch to a workable size.
I'll try grounding the amps seperately I guess. If that doesn't solve it, I'll replace the 4 ga power wire with a 6ga. At that point everyting will be 6ga.
But... what's the point of a block that offers multiple size gauge in/out if I have to keep everything the same gauge?
09-26-2006, 08:26 PM
#4
ok if you have 4ga in to the block, than 6 out to the amps and 6ga grounds you should be ok.
sorry, was just i little confused with the sizes.
if all else fails you could move into a ground loop isolator, but start with the cheapest first. another culprit may be those small ring terminals that your using for your grounds. might be that your not getting enough surface contact.
what size amps are u using?
sorry, was just i little confused with the sizes.
if all else fails you could move into a ground loop isolator, but start with the cheapest first. another culprit may be those small ring terminals that your using for your grounds. might be that your not getting enough surface contact.
what size amps are u using?
09-26-2006, 08:29 PM
#5
Originally Posted by MMII
I hear what you're saying about keeping the size of the gauge uniform, and on that note I should add/correct my previous description above...
The 4ga power wire running into the power block is where the 4ga ends.
The problem I encountered was, I couldn't find any terminal rings big enough to accept a 4ga wire with a small enough ring to connect to the amps.
So... I sent 4ga to the power block, split the block with 6ga wire to the amps, and continued with 6ga grounds from the amps to another block.
It was actually my intention to keep the size uniform throughout initially, but without a ring small enough to connect a 4 ga wire my only other option at that point was to try connecting to the amps without a terminal ring, but there's so much wire in 4ga that I couldn't tighten it down, so I stepped it down a notch to a workable size.
I'll try grounding the amps seperately I guess. If that doesn't solve it, I'll replace the 4 ga power wire with a 6ga. At that point everyting will be 6ga.
But... what's the point of a block that offers multiple size gauge in/out if I have to keep everything the same gauge?
The 4ga power wire running into the power block is where the 4ga ends.
The problem I encountered was, I couldn't find any terminal rings big enough to accept a 4ga wire with a small enough ring to connect to the amps.
So... I sent 4ga to the power block, split the block with 6ga wire to the amps, and continued with 6ga grounds from the amps to another block.
It was actually my intention to keep the size uniform throughout initially, but without a ring small enough to connect a 4 ga wire my only other option at that point was to try connecting to the amps without a terminal ring, but there's so much wire in 4ga that I couldn't tighten it down, so I stepped it down a notch to a workable size.
I'll try grounding the amps seperately I guess. If that doesn't solve it, I'll replace the 4 ga power wire with a 6ga. At that point everyting will be 6ga.
But... what's the point of a block that offers multiple size gauge in/out if I have to keep everything the same gauge?
your amps -neg is better to have a biger -neg then +
if you have more then one amp you need to get the same # on a meeter on the -neg you you will get a wine
also the deck need to have the same # as well
some amps are set up for an 8G wire
09-26-2006, 10:37 PM
#6
David Navone - Car Audio Engineering has what you need to fix the problem
09-27-2006, 01:20 AM
#9
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by Tom.F.1
did you add a new wire from battery negative to chassis?
09-27-2006, 02:07 AM
#10
If you have another amp laying around,try swapping it in place and see if it goes away,might be the amp is causing it too,what kinda amp btw?
I had an orion 225 hcca i tried using on my highs and was getting horrible whine,put a differnt amp in and all was good.
I had an orion 225 hcca i tried using on my highs and was getting horrible whine,put a differnt amp in and all was good.
