Alternator Whine Help

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

Alright well I am getting alternator whine. So i wanted to find out what the problem was so i first started by disconnecting the rca's at the amp. so i turn on my car and I drive my car around and it seems like the alternator whine is gone. So just to make sure i put the rca's back onto the amp. again i drive my car around the block and the alternator whine is back. so my question is the problem with the rca's? amp? anything else? any help is appreciated. thx.

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[chinny 5,000+ posts]

same thing happens to me, i tried regrouding my comp amp and still there

 

[regal8r 5,000+ posts]

try just turning the hu down and see what happens. more than likely it is the current draw from the amp causing the whine bc it requires more torque to spin the alternator pulley when there is a load on the electrical system

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

okay i will try that.

 

[chinny 5,000+ posts]

even when i turn mine down/pause it it still does it.

 

[chinny 5,000+ posts]

are you using the stock ground location in the HU?

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

Yea i turned it down and it still does it. as for the stock ground yes. but since i took out the rca's from the amp shouldn't it be the amp or the rca's? or something else maybe my ground?

 

[chinny 5,000+ posts]

Yea i turned it down and it still does it. as for the stock ground yes. but since i took out the rca's from the amp shouldn't it be the amp or the rca's? or something else maybe my ground?

i was told it was the stock HU ground, im using the stock one also.

 

[Kenny Pollock 10+ year member]

I have the same problem... and when I turn down the volume it's there... but when the headunit is off it's not.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

i was told it was the stock HU ground, im using the stock one also.

no i took out the rca's and it did not do it.

 

[chinny 5,000+ posts]

no i took out the rca's and it did not do it.

same for me, so its the HU ground, try grouding the HU to the chasis, dont use the stock wire for grouding. i have to do this also but in my car theirs really no chasis location behind my dash, theirs only 1 screw and i though it was the chasis but it didnt work.

 

[regal8r 5,000+ posts]

hmmm...dunno what to tell u then guys, sorry //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[chinny 5,000+ posts]

try replacing your ground for the HU man, id bet thats it.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

alright i hope thats the problem. thx.

 

[chinny 5,000+ posts]

make sure to tell me if that was the solution or not.

 

[stones 10+ year member]

The problem you describe is a ground loop. Here is an explaination for what a ground loop is. (Written and copyright by Tomi Engdahl 1997-2000)

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"A good power distribution system is essential for proper operation of audio system. Professional audio systems just doesn't work well with normal extension cords running hundreds of feet to a stage. Besides the power feed the good grounding of the whole system is essential.

Ground loop is a condition where an unintended connection to ground is made through an interfering electrical conductor. Generally ground loop connection exists when an electrical system is connected through more than one way to the electrical ground.

When two or more devices are connected to a common ground through different paths, a ground loop occurs. Currents flow through these multiple paths and develop voltages which can cause damage, noise or 50Hz/60Hz (variable in car audio due to alternator RPM) hum in audio or video equipment. To prevent ground loops, all signal grounds need to go to one common point and when two grounding points cannot be avoided, one side must isolate the signal and grounds from the other.

Usually ground loops are an after-the-fact type of problem in which the end-user blames the installer, the installer blames the manufacturer, and actually nobody is at fault. Neither the manufacturer nor the installer can usually predict where a loop will occur. Only after the system is installed can it be determined if a problem will exist.

Ground loop problems can be corrected and avoided. It is important for the dealer, isntallee and the end user to be aware that this problem can occur. It is a good idea to design the system to avoid most obvious source of this kind of problems, and then be prepared still to face some problems when starting to use the system. A ground loop problem may occur at several points in the system, and each occurrence of the problem must be corrected individually. "

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One thing that usually works is wrapping a small wire around one of the negative prongs on each end of the RCA cable (the outer shield) then grounding the wire to the ground of the headunit and the amp(do it on both ends).

Another thing is to ground the head unit to the same spot as the amp.

These two options connect the grounds of each component together.

 

[75MonteCarlo 10+ year member]

I've heard you can ground your HU to the negative on the battery to reduce line noise and alternator whine, but that's gonna take some work.