what does this tell me? (regarding whine in speakers)

nappyjim · 10-17-2004, 12:28 PM

When i have my headunit set to AUX input and my computer is totally off...no power plugged into it, i can still hear the engine whine thru my speakers.

Of course, if i unhook the sound wire from the computer, the whine is gone.

But im wondering what you guys can deduece from this...if anything.

What direction should I head in?

TimmyM · 10-17-2004, 12:38 PM

Using an inverter? Does it make noise with the inverter turned off?

grepzen · 10-17-2004, 12:46 PM

If this wine occurs only when the car is running AND it fluctuates w/ throttle position.. then you'll need to check your wiring for grounds. --or add some emi filtering

Tidder · 10-17-2004, 12:50 PM

Usually ground is the problem.

megamind · 10-17-2004, 01:01 PM

Can by ur dynamo. I have a stupid dynamo (all rusty), and i switched it with a new 1 from the junkyard and now its working better. Check your battery connectors for rust, you will always have a bit of this beacuse of the large power going trough the cables to your pc (and amps?) and your audiocables who are scrambled a bit by this power (magnetic field of the cable).

nappyjim · 10-17-2004, 01:02 PM

im using an opus. but i have the opus totally unhooked from the computer at this time..

And yes, the noise does fluctuate with throttle position.

I dont understand how a ground can be a problem. What am i supposed to ground? Cause this noise is happening with NO power and the only thing hooked into my computer is my sound wire.

I do have the speaker wire running next to my 8awg power wire. let me try unhooking the power wire from the battery and see what happens

megamind · 10-17-2004, 01:33 PM

There is no noise when your engine isnt running and what is the only thing that flucates when u trottle? Your dynamo

It can be that the ground of your radio came loose, if you have more then 1 ground point it can make this noise too (ground loops)

Tidder · 10-17-2004, 11:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by nappyjim

im using an opus. but i have the opus totally unhooked from the computer at this time..

I dont understand how a ground can be a problem. What am i supposed to ground? Cause this noise is happening with NO power and the only thing hooked into my computer is my sound wire.

NappyJim, I'm beginning to think you haven't done any research at all. If you don't know anything about car stereo installation, or computers, research a bit. You'll be amazed at what you find. Best thing though, don't think you know what you're doing. Sometimes you'll find the answer is far from what you thought was going to fix the problem.

Judgement · 10-19-2004, 02:31 PM

I am having the same problem. I have no clue what to ground! The head Unit is already grounded, so what else is there? I think I have seen some RCA wires that have an extra extention for ground. Is this what I need to get rid of the Whine? It is not a loud whine, but I do notice that it is there only when the car is on and fluctuates with acceleration.

heypachuco · 10-19-2004, 03:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by nappyjim

I do have the speaker wire running next to my 8awg power wire. let me try unhooking the power wire from the battery and see what happens

This is a big no-no.

Keep you signal and speaker wires away from power wires. Noise can get in that way too.

And double check your ground points. Are they a clean connection to bare metal, or are they connected to a bolt through a painted panel? A good ground will resolve many problems before they come up.

falconey · 10-19-2004, 03:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by heypachuco

This is a big no-no.

Keep you signal and speaker wires away from power wires. Noise can get in that way too.

And double check your ground points. Are they a clean connection to bare metal, or are they connected to a bolt through a painted panel? A good ground will resolve many problems before they come up.

He's right you shouldn't run speaker and power wires together. This isn't your problem though. The key here is you stated it only happens in AUX. Ground your pc case and let us know what happens. Matter of fact you can do an easy test. Take some wire and strip the ends. Touch one end to the metal on the case and the other to some part of the car chasis. See if the whine goes away. If it does do a more permanent install of the case ground.

tbird2340 · 10-19-2004, 03:17 PM

I checked everything numerous times and ending up getting a ground loop isolator from Wal-Mart for $12 and it fixed it.

MatrixPC · 10-19-2004, 05:30 PM

The "Speaker whining" usually happen when power wire (from battery to devices) and signal wire (audio RCAs and Speakers) are running parallel with each other.
Try to run power wire on one side of the car and signal on the other side or middle of the car. Only cross the 2 when there is no options.

Do the speakers still whining when you are just listening to radio?
Ground loop isolators somewhat help but it just a "bandage" solution.

IntellaWorks · 10-19-2004, 05:36 PM

Here's my .02 cents. Buy a ground loop isolator from radio shack. (10.00)

haha, the poor radio shack guy's gunna **** his pants when you ask him for it too (cause you know how they always act like they know everything)

He's gunna think your some kind of weird scientist... muahahaha

gambit32 · 10-19-2004, 05:44 PM

One word about ground loop isolators...you may lose some sound. I did with mine. I grounded my headunit and that fixed it. I had the same exact problem as described. When my hu was switched to aux then I had noise even with the computer off and when it was disconnected. I attached an extra wire to the metal holder (I don't know what it's called) of my hu and grounded it. It took care of the noise.

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