Xbox + Inverter Ground Loop Noise....

**edraws** · 12-12-2005, 10:46 PM

Hello,

I'm 95% done my install because my LCD arrived today.

Everything is good except the ground noise. The noise is there when the xbox is on or off.

Then I thought it was the inverter itself so I unplugged the xbox from inverter and the noise was going immediately.

NOTE: I'm using a CD-RB20 RCA IP Bus Adapter to connect my Terk XM Direct unit and Xbox. The XM Radio audio is clean when I have the xbox unplugged.

The noise returned as soon as I plug in the xbox. Then I was reading a couple articles I found on google.

People mentioned they had to ground their PC's to the head unit.

Had anyone run into this problem and found an easy solution?

**arebelspy** · 12-12-2005, 10:54 PM

Run a search on cutting off the third ground prong on the ac adapter, that solution (mainly for PCs) might work with your XBox..

-arebelspy

**edraws** · 12-12-2005, 11:41 PM

I know about that solution actually, but the xbox has a 2-prong AC adapter.

I'm almost wondering if I have to ground the xbox to the headunit because of that.

**binary.h4x** · 12-12-2005, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by edraws

I know about that solution actually, but the xbox has a 2-prong AC adapter.

I'm almost wondering if I have to ground the xbox to the headunit because of that.

the problem is that the xbox IS grounding itself through the headunit.

Install a ground loop isolator between the xbox and headunit, you'll be good.

**edraws** · 12-13-2005, 02:15 AM

Well I picked up a Scosche ES-034F ground loop isolator today. Unfortunately it didn't solve the problem. Last night I tried grounding the inverter to the same ground point as my headunit, etc. I tried various ground points as well. The ground loop noise is still there.

I still think the xbox is not grounded which is causing the buzzing because it only has a two prong AC cable. I'm going to search and see if anyone has made a three prong cable mod for the xbox.

I'm also going to try plugging my shuttle PC into the inverter to see if it causes a ground loop.

**edraws** · 12-13-2005, 02:29 PM

Well I wanted to test my theory on my lunch break.

I hooked up my shuttle XPC to the inverter and sure enough I had a clean signal. No ground loop noise at all.

The shuttle uses a 3-prong AC adapter which I figured would ground itself to the inverter and would not have ground noise.

So, now I just need to figure out how I can provide a ground for the xbox AC cord and that will be that.

Anybody have any ideas or know solution?

**vettejock99** · 12-13-2005, 02:52 PM

Please keep us posted. I am interested in this as well...

**Tranman** · 12-13-2005, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by edraws

Well I wanted to test my theory on my lunch break.

I hooked up my shuttle XPC to the inverter and sure enough I had a clean signal. No ground loop noise at all.

The shuttle uses a 3-prong AC adapter which I figured would ground itself to the inverter and would not have ground noise.

So, now I just need to figure out how I can provide a ground for the xbox AC cord and that will be that.

Anybody have any ideas or know solution?

I had some issues like that, I ended up making a ground wire and attaching it to a couple of points on the Xbox motherboard.

HOWEVER, I did convert my power supply to DC-DC...so I guess you really can't do that...

**edraws** · 12-13-2005, 04:04 PM

Techinically the same principals should apply.

The ground noise could even be coming from the audio cable for the xbox.

I remember unplugging the A/V cable and AC cable from the xbox and the noise got even louder. Connected the xbox and the noise went down a little, then I turned on the xbox and the ground buzz was even less.

NOTE: If I leave the A/V cable connected to the xbox and unplug the AC cable from the inverter the noise is gone.

So I have a feeling it's the mobo or the audio plug in the xbox causing the horrible ground buzz.

Would you be willing to share the schematic on the ground points you used on your mobo?