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ground noise using aux interface

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=103824
Printed Date: May 06, 2024 at 7:36 PM


Topic: ground noise using aux interface

Posted By: cinnamonspice
Subject: ground noise using aux interface
Date Posted: April 08, 2008 at 11:37 AM

I just installed sirius sat. in my car (2003 Honda Accord)  using an Aux interface (Peripheral) that plugs into the stock head unit and has to sets of RCA plugs. I am using 1 for my satellite radio but now I'm get ing a ground whine that I can hear in the speakers when the engine is running. I suppose this is an alternator whine because it raises and lowers in pitch as I accelerate.

Someone has told me this is a ground loop interference but I don't know how to fix it. I am using the cigarette lighter in the center console for power and have run the power cord up to the back of the radio. The only grounds in the whole system is the one the factory head unit uses and the ground from the cigarette lighter. I also made sure the antenna wire and power wire were not touching or near each other.

Any suggestions?



Replies:

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: April 08, 2008 at 7:19 PM

Chances are you do have a ground loop problem.  Go to your local stero shop and tell them your problem, or tell them you want to try a ground loop isolator, they should let you try it to see if it will fix your problem.  We sell PAC products  

pac-audio.com   their isolator is an SNI-1.  These devices do have an input and an output, they are directional, if you connect it backwards, it will work but it will reduce the low frequency output by about 50 percent.  If the configuration of your RCA cables will not allow you to connect it properly, you may have to purchase a set of barrel connectors and a set of double male RCAs. 





Posted By: cinnamonspice
Date Posted: April 09, 2008 at 11:20 AM

the Peripheral interface has a set of female RCAs that accept the line -out RCAs from the Satelite radio signal. Would this direction be the correct way for the GLI?

Could I eliminate the ground loop by cutting the cigarette lighter ground and grounding it to the same place the HU is grounded?





Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: April 09, 2008 at 9:20 PM

I think this would be the wrong direction.  The device is designed to connect to the Female output of the deck.  I doubt that cutting the ground off of the cig lighter will help you.  You may want to try grounding the shield of the RCA cables of the adaptor.  Just take a length of wire and ground one end of it  and touch the other end to the shield of the RCA connector of the interface.  If this makes the noise go away, let me know and I can post a picture of a possible repair.

You do not need the barrel connectors and the double male RCAs to see if it will fix your problem.  If the shop is willing to let you try it just connect it the way it will connect.  If the noise goes away you will have to buy it and the barrels.  If your bass goes away, don't panic  this is normal if the device is connected backwards.





Posted By: cinnamonspice
Date Posted: April 10, 2008 at 12:16 PM

Went ot Best Buy and bought their GLI. I was a little nervous since the package was opened and the instruction were taken out. The GLI also had to brown wires (maybe 14 gauge) coming out of it with ends pre stripped to connect to something.

The guy told me not to mess with them and to just hook up the RCAs. I did and it seemed to cancel the noise but it also caused me left side speakers to quit working. I switched the red and white and it did just the opposite causing the right side to not work. It's only receiving signal through the right side on the GLI. I disconnected it and returned it.

Could this be a problem with that GLI or am I missing something? To confirm, I using RCA to 3.5mm headphone-type jack connection to connect the Satellite radio receiver to the interface.





Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: April 10, 2008 at 5:39 PM
Pac is famous for a lack of quality control.  You had a bad unit.  Did you notice that the bass went down a good bit?




Posted By: cinnamonspice
Date Posted: April 11, 2008 at 9:46 AM

I see. To be honest, I didn't notice if the bass dropped... my attention was focused on the speakers that cut out. I still haven't tried grounding the RCAs.

Would grounding the brown wires from the GLI be the the same as grounding the RCAs?

I plan on trying to ground the RCA's this weekend but what is a clean way to keep them grounded if it works? Surely I don't just wrap the wires around the skirt and leave it at that.





Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: April 11, 2008 at 9:02 PM

Following is a link to a picture that will help you.   https://bcae1.com/images/rca/temporaryrcashieldrepair.html  

The above is only to show you how to solder the wire to  the RCA jack.





Posted By: cinnamonspice
Date Posted: April 14, 2008 at 11:17 AM

So I tried grounding a wire an touching it to the RCA shied and the noise did not go away. I went to Fry's and bought a GLI and plugged it in the way it would go...not much change. So I reversed it using some barrel adapters and voila! No more buzz. I can still hear a little buzz if I mute the satellite radio receiver and turn the volume up really high but I never would listen to it as high as it would take to make the buzz audible.

I suppose it's as good as it'll get. Thanks for the help.





Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: April 14, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Glad to help.





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