Whining sound driving me nuts

**RedGTiVR6** · 05-23-2006, 02:13 PM

and you're absolutely sure that everything else is grounded properly as well?

**2k1Toaster** · 05-23-2006, 02:29 PM

I had the same problem. High pitched whine that gets louder and louder with higher RPM. I just jiggled the wires behind the HU and it was fixed. Basically got rid of any loops and twists. I am also using RCA cables from Walmart that I bout for $2. Sound great.
If behind the HU doesn't fix it, then go down through the rest of the wires and seperate, make sure they run next to eachother, but not crossing and such everywhere.
Since it only whines when you have the computer in there, then it is probably a grounding issue like the others said. Do you have a ground loop isolator?
I know how annoying that can be. I also read somewhere that wrapping some wires in tinfoil should be a temporary fix, don't know if it works or not.
I would eliminate the HU as a possible source for the problem because you said it works with other devices.

**tannie** · 05-23-2006, 03:47 PM

Im not really sure what other grounds I should check besides the HU, Power Supply, pc case, and monitor. I am actually using the ground from the car harness for the HU, I can try to ground it on a chassis somewhere instead, but I highly doubt thats the problem. I was hoping to avoid using an isolator as its just a filter and not a solution, but it doesnt seem like I have any other choice.

P.S. Im gonna try to fiddle aroudn with the wires to see if ti helps.

**dune** · 05-23-2006, 05:38 PM

So all your grounds run to the same spot on the chassis, including the amp? What kind of sound card are you using? Do you have a wiring diagram?

**tannie** · 05-24-2006, 01:03 AM

Bump, just included diagram

**Snootch** · 05-24-2006, 11:08 AM

This is what you need to do. The problem you have is called a ground loop, and it is manifesting itself through your audio path because of the difference in potential between all of your audio components. The low quality headunit doesn't help matters much, but your problem is solve-able. I see your amp is grounded to a seat bolt. That is good, it is a solid metal grounding point. You need all of your audio devices to have the same ground potential as this point does and that will eliminate the whine. Do this:

1- Get yourself some 16 gauge wire (preferably black) and run it between your seat bolt and head unit. Disconnect wiring harness ground from your head unit and connect the head unit's ground to this wire.
2- Disconnect the PC's ground from the battery. Connect the end that was previously connected to the battery, and connect it to the seat bolt.
3- Ensure the metal at the seat bolt is clean and paint-free. connect all the wires to it using ring terminals and again, the ring terminals must be touching bare paint-free metal on the car's body.

If all your grounds are run to the same location, they will have the same potential, eliminating noise. A clean grounding point will keep it that way.
Hope I could help.

**RedGTiVR6** · 05-24-2006, 11:17 AM

a seat bolt is generally NOT a good grounding point.

to make it a good grounding point you need to do a few things.

Clean off of the paint on the bolt it's self and on the surrounding surface. Usually the threads are covered in paint, which won't allow for a solid ground. Also, usually seat bolts have some gunk built up on them, either from spilled drinks, or from being put together at the factory with a thread lock or grease, or the like.

IF your seat bolt is clean of all of these things, THEN it can be a good groudning point. Else, I'd recomend drilling a new hole in the car, cleaning off paint, and using a fresh bolt.

Grounding to a single location is a good idea, it's what I've done in my car, hell, we even ran a 1/0 run back for grounding purposes from the - terminal...lol

**dune** · 05-24-2006, 11:25 AM

Ground all your inter-connected devices (audio/video) to the same point on the chassis. Make it a clean ground (sand off paint) and get good connectors and wire.

**Tibby93** · 05-24-2006, 11:44 AM

I haven't read any of the posts, but looking at your diagram, don't bring the ground wire all the way back to the battery, keep it as short as possible, and go right into bare metal in the trunk, or wherever your PC is... Im also curious to know why your car pc is also connected to the cigarette lighter. I know for a fact that the cigarette lighter isn't a good ground for audio because that ground travels quite a ways instead of going real short into the body... I learned that with my satellite radio, it was buzzing, then I grounded directly to the frame, and it stopped...