i just hooked this clarion 4 channel to my subs and 6x9s. And i notice when im driving... in between songs ill hear a type of whining.. but as i rev the engine, the whining revs too?!? bad ground? somebody throw me a frikkin bone PLEASE!


kev

 

You have a ground loop. I would start by redoing the amplifier ground and ensure that it is properly secured to the car.

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There is also a type of filter (don't know the exact name) that plugs in between the power source and the head unit (some aftermarket models already have one wired)....this will also help reduce the noise.

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92 Camaro RS LO3, 5-spd, T-tops
Mechanics:
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NEXT UP: SLP 1 3/4" Headers/Y-pipe, Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch kit

 

You have what's called "engine noise". It may be caused by many things, usually, cheap equipment. Clarion is not cheap so are your RCA cables? Are you using then or the speaker level input? Do you have the RCA cables running next to any power wires? Check all grounds and the connections too. If that doesn't help, get an inline filter for the RCA cables. That should atleast decrease the level of the noise enough not to bother you too much.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...

 

i didnt get a chance to check out the ground yet. My RCA's are real cheap, and they're hooked up to a "line-level Converter" which is tapped into the 6x9 jack.

-also, posted this on another Topic. The amp keeps shutting itself off for some reason. I dont even have the subs "bridged" so its not that much of a load on the amp, i even turned the gain down too. It will only play for a minute if im lucky, then shut off!
any idea what the problem is? its a Clarion APA4101 4 channel amp. please help...


kev

 

Cheap RCAs almost never allow alternator whine into the system. I've used cheap RCAs for years without any problems. You have, without a doubt, a ground loop problem, and 99.44% of ground loop problems are caused by a bad ground or equipment with an amazingly cheap power supply.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Sometimes, but less frequently than a bad ground, that can happen if you run your RCAs right next to the power wire. Keep them seperate, and if they cross, cross them at a 45 degree angle.

 

You mean a 90 degree angle.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

heres another question, not relating to this topic at all..

Since i used a Line Level Converter to run RCA's.. if any spliced ends touched one another, would this cause the amp to cut out (shut off)?? is it trying to work, and jsut workin to hard? because i had this problem where i could not turn the music up loud at all, and i went back and Electrical Taped all the spliced ends and one pair of ends were touching... now i fixed it and i can blast the music without the amp cutting out. explanation?


kev

 

Sounds like you hit the nail right on the head......keep those spliced leads insulated so they don't short out

 

If you short out the signal on the input side of the amp, it will cause no damage to the amp. On the output side, it could cause damage. If you short it out on the inside of the amp, it's highly likely that you could damage the radio, since the input of the amp is the output of the radio.

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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

um ok, whatever you say then. Well it works and im happy.