Just curious

[The Camry]

Ive never had ground noise or anything of the sort but say your playing your music at low volume. below 33% and you want to know if its a ground problem that is causing your issue. Such as bad ground or ground loop. Is it okay to disconnect the ground cable for any length of time. Like say 30 seconds. Just to test?

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[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Ive never had ground noise or anything of the sort but say your playing your music at low volume. below 33% and you want to know if its a ground problem that is causing your issue. Such as bad ground or ground loop. Is it okay to disconnect the ground cable for any length of time. Like say 30 seconds. Just to test?

You can..But Im not sure that would be a good Idea with the Pioneer HUs with the Pico issues.Prob turn off the HU first and remove the Ground wire,then turn back on?Turn HU back off then replace, and turn back on to check.IDN..that HU scares the hell out of me/Pioneers..lol

 

[Jepalan]

If you are talking about removing the large gauge power ground wire going to an amp, then no, NEVER do that.

The amp ground currents will flow back through the RCA ground connections and through the head unit circuits and back to chassis.

If you run an amp without power ground you *will* blow the pico fuses in a Pioneer headunit as soon as you turn the amp on. Some other decks may be damaged by doing this as well because the ground traces are not designed to pass that much current. It can be even worse if the deck does not have pico fuses - you can burn up PCB traces.

Do NOT do this.^^^

 

[quakerroatmeal 10+ year member]

What is your purpose of that? You just want to see what a grounding issue noise sounds like?

 

[noble brown]

If you are talking about removing the large gauge power ground wire going to an amp, then no, NEVER do that. The amp ground currents will flow back through the RCA ground connections and through the head unit circuits and back to chassis.

If you run an amp without power ground you *will* blow the pico fuses in a Pioneer headunit as soon as you turn the amp on. Some other decks may be damaged by doing this as well because the ground traces are not designed to pass that much current. It can be even worse if the deck does not have pico fuses - you can burn up PCB traces.

Do NOT do this.^^^

I did not know to this. I'm glad you explained this though. I would have just figured that you would lose power. I didn't know that the amp would try to ground through the RCA's! I would've thought they were discreet circuits. Smh

 

[Jepalan]

I did not know to this. I'm glad you explained this though. I would have just figured that you would lose power. I didn't know that the amp would try to ground through the RCA's! I would've thought they were discreet circuits. Smh

It depends on the amp design. But better safe than sorry. The only warning of significance in any of the new Pioneer installation manuals says to always connect the HU and amp grounds before any other wires and to disconnect them last. This prevents possible ground currents from flowing from the amp through the RCA ground on HU or vice-versa.

From the Pioneer NEX manual...

WARNING:

The black cable is ground. When installing this unit or power amp (sold separately), make sure to connect the ground wire first. Ensure that the ground wire is properly connected to metal parts of the car’s body. The ground wire of the power amp and the one of this unit or any other device must be connected to the car separately with different screws. If the screw for the ground wire loosens or falls out, it could result in fire, generation of smoke or malfunction.

 

[The Camry]

I thought i popped the pico a few weeks back. Didnt have the HU out or anything. Was just sitting in the car, tuning, and i hear a loud POP. freaked out for a second. no noise or anything. guess it was just the plastic expanding or something from the heat in the car. Idk. Lil heart attack.

Ive always read you should make a better ground than the one the car's original hu used. Though ive never had an issue with them. Easy to check with a DMM.