RCA Cables
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=10378
Printed Date: July 07, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Topic: RCA Cables
Posted By: AudioBAHNvlcm
Subject: RCA Cables
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:08 PM
i have a question about my new RCA cables. they are Rockford Fosgate Obsidian RCA cables, i was wondering, what is that tiny wire in between the Red and White cables? its really small i and i was wondering what it is for, thank you for your help
Replies:
Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:20 PM
If I remember right, I believe it's meant for noise reduction/blocking signal interference ------------- Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com
Posted By: AudioBAHNvlcm
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:23 PM
where do i hook it up to??
Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:29 PM
I don't recall seeing one exposed before, at least not from the factory. If it is supposed to be that way, treat it as a ground and run it to the frame ------------- Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com
Posted By: AudioBAHNvlcm
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:31 PM
this shows the little wire in the middle, am i supposed to ground it?? 
Posted By: vseven
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:43 PM
Whenever I have seen RCA's like this they market the middle wire for a remote turn on lead. 2 of the 3 pairs of RCA I use have this wire on them. I ran a seperate wire down the other side of the car as recommended on lots of website to pervent noise, but thats what it is. If you dont use it make sure you snip and tape it off, its a electrical short waiting to happen.
Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:44 PM
I'm not a pro, but I'd say yes. I've never seen RCA's like this before, but I'll do some more research and let you know ------------- Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com
Posted By: AudioBAHNvlcm
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:45 PM
so what should i do, ground the wire to the chassis, or tape it off??
Posted By: vseven
Date Posted: March 03, 2003 at 9:54 PM
Tape it off unless your going to use it for the remote turn on. The outer ring of the RCA already goes to ground. In fact thats why when installing a AMP you should always connect your ground wire before the RCA's because if you connect power then RCA's the amp will use the RCA's ground as system ground and can blow up your RCA outputs on the head unit. Little tidbit for the night.
Allan.
Posted By: bdl666
Date Posted: March 04, 2003 at 12:32 AM
I like using this wire as a ground comming from the back of the head unit to the amp to prevent ground loops. And also to prevent any noise from getting to the rca's(the closer to the vehicle ground you run the rca's the less chance you have picking up noise from the vehicle). 
Posted By: Big Purds
Date Posted: March 04, 2003 at 5:12 AM
it is a grounding wire...defined by Monster Cable as a "Drain Wire" which serves the purpose of draining electrostatic noise to ground and away from circuitry...the wire is typically only on one end, and therefore not a remote line as afforementioned...
Posted By: vseven
Date Posted: March 04, 2003 at 5:23 AM
If you look over the rockford website you'll see this wire on both ends though, thats why I said it was a remote turn on. But it can be used either way. Heres alink to the KnuKonceptz site: https://www.knukonceptz.com/detail.asp?product_id=KLA2M
If you read the description the last line reads "Includes additional lead for ground loop isolation or remote amplifer turn-on. " so I suppose its both.
Allan.
Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: March 04, 2003 at 10:08 AM
Don’t ever use that cable for a remote turn on wire. There is a reason for running power and signal cables on opposite sides of the car its called interference. Now that remote wire is still a power wire and will cause interference such as engine noise. That wire is supposed to be used as a ground loop isolator. I have seen that on knukonceptz.com but it is wrong if you use it as a remote turn on wire its no different then taping all your power and signal cables together and run them down one side of the car.
|