Amplifier Ground Question...

[mjd709]

Here's a thought about whine/noise...

I ground close to the amp. I got rid of whine/noise with a Ground Loop Isolator from Radio Shack. Plugs in between the RCA pre-amp outputs and the amp. $15. Noise gone.

[biju]

Here's a thought about whine/noise...

I ground close to the amp. I got rid of whine/noise with a Ground Loop Isolator from Radio Shack. Plugs in between the RCA pre-amp outputs and the amp. $15. Noise gone.

...Good point. I've thought about it, but doesn't adding the in-line isolator reduce signal strength (voltage), etc.? I'm asking because I honestly have no idea - and want to make sure I maintain the sound quality, etc.

Thanks.

-biju.

[Locomigo]

...Good point. I've thought about it, but doesn't adding the in-line isolator reduce signal strength (voltage), etc.? I'm asking because I honestly have no idea - and want to make sure I maintain the sound quality, etc.

Thanks.

-biju.

Agreed. Those are a worthy fix, its effectively a tank circuit, which takes the excess "noise" and grounds it. While I havent had experience with this adversely effecting the sound quality, it is more of a band-aid type fix rather than a permanent solution.

Just seems odd to me, that by adding a couple amps, you induced whine. This as I reference earlier is probably because you are slightly undersized in your main cables to the battery (exceed ampacity rating of the conductor).

Like I say, I like to run both ground and return to the battery.
If, for ease of attempting, you want to try to ground near the amps, then that should be acceptable, but you definitely want to disconnect the feed to the battery so as not to introduce a ground loop as I referenced previously. With your 1/0 local (to the amp) ground, then that would reduce the loop distance enough to be within the ampacity rating of the cable.

Whatever you do, ensure that both conductors (ground and return) are the same size on ALL circuits.

Feel free to give me a buzz... 303-478-7568

[mjd709]

I haven't noticed any signal degradation using the GLI. It cleaned it up pretty well. Might be a good last resort for you.

[Tone]

Whine typically is coming from the head unit. Try disconnecting the rcas to the amp and see if the whine is still there. If not, then it is definitely at the headunit. Try moving the head unit ground wire from the harness to the body. We ahve also had to ground the RCAs at the deck to the body in some cased. I had this problem in the ML with both the D1 and the new AVIC-Z1 (which by the way is increadible - I look forward to showing it in Moab).

[Tone]

Grounds should be as close to the amps as possible - a distro there would be fine. Definitely increase the size of the ground at the battery to the frame and engine as well as the positive from the alternator to the battery. And be sure to fuse / circuit breaker the positive @ the battery with the appropriate value.