I'm about to install a second amp in my car, and im guessing i need to get a distribution block to wire em both up. My question is, who makes a good one, and is there any company that makes one that will have a built in filter that will filter the noise that my msd makes? How would i wire one of these bad boys up? Since i havent seen one i dont know if its self explanatory or not.

 

They're are a ton of companies that make dist blocks. They are all the same, just the way they look is diff. All the big companies make them with their logos on them. My advice is to get the block from the company you like or one from a company whose components you've intalled. None of them have filters on them.

 

thanks for the info, now, i need to install a filter, would i be able to put it anywhere near the distribution block? id much rather put it back there then to have to mount it in my dash then have to run wires everywhere.

 

why do you need a filter ? They are band aids. They hide a problem, not fix it. Let's fix the problem first.

mike

 

the noise is coming out of my msd ignition. i dont have the slightest clue in how to stop it, i just heard that they make a filter that is the cure. dj, do you know of any ways i can fix the interference problem?

 

is it on fm only ? CD as well ? Only happens when car is running ?

Noise trouble shooting is a tough job, lots of steps. First you need to know exactly when the noise happens. Does it increase with the volume of the radio ?

mike

 

o.k. i hear the noise only when the car is running, if its in accessories or even in the on position there is no static interference. i hear it in both fm and cd. the static does not increase with volume, in fact, you cant really tell its there once you've turned it up quite a bit. i noticed i never had these problems till i installed the msd. the problem i think i could be having is that both the amp and the msd go to the same battery terminal, that right there could be causing the interference. in my car i have all my rca, antenna and speaker wire running together, while i have my power wire ran seperately down the other side of the car. the ground wire is good and solid, and its 8 gauge just like my power wire.

 

How long is your ground wire? A long ground could possibly introduce noise into a system. 18" is about the recommended max if memory serves me correctly.

If it's not too long...have you tried a different ground point? Where is it currently grounded?

You went the right route with power and signal wires seperated, so assuming you've got good interconnects (RCA's) then you should be good in that aspect...

 

Does the noise increase with engine rpm ?

I presume all speakers are running off an amp ? Or do you have some off a head unit ?

mike

 

You mentioned that the MSD and the audio power share the same battery terminal. Where does the MSD ground (negative)wire go? Might try taking the MSD's ground wire to the where the battery negative wire ties to the chassis of the car.

Having head units use the cars built in grounds (same as was used with the stock GM radio) is sometimes asking for trouble as well. Getting all the audio system grounds tied to as close to the same spot is often helpful to resolve noise problems.

I have generally tried to avoid taking power amp grounds to the car chassis in the rear of the car. I run a ground cable of the same size (or larger) as the positive back up to where the battery ties to the chassis in the engine compartment. Battery to chassis cable size should be increased to at least the size of your audio power wire regardless of how you run grounds.

If the MSD is the determined noise source, and it is definitely coming through the power - try a noise filter at the MSD power leads close to the MSD. I believe MSD sells a filter for this purpose.

Absolutely agree with DJ that putting a filter at the power amps is just covering up a problem that should be able to be solved.

Good luck!

 

thanks for the replies, ill have a few things to work out now. last night when i was roaming around town, i noticed that the interference was really faint while i was moving in drive, but when i applied the brake, and however long it was applied the sound was evident. it seems that its only a real hassle when the brake is applied. the sound isnt there when the key is in the 'on' position, and then when i start it the sound is really faint, then when i push in the brake pedal the worse the interference gets. my ground cable is about two feet long, it came with the rockford fosgate 8 gauge amp kit, and my rca cables are the newer style rockford fosgate blue cables. my msd is grounded a few feet from the msd on one of the bolts that holds down my front right quarterpanel. i'll try and extend it and run it alongside the power cable and ground the msd to where the battery gets grounded. i'll let you guys know how it all comes along

 

one thing to try, but it will involve alot of work

Run your stereo off a power source other then your car.

This means getting another battery, and powering your headunit and amps off of this other battery. So you will need to run power and ground for both the amps and the head unit to it. Then, start the car.

Like i said, quite abit of work involved, but this test will see if the noise is being put in through the electrical system, or if it is being inducted through your rca or speaker wires. If the noise with the enging running goes away, it means the noise was being put in through the power or ground. If the noise is still there, it means that it is being picked up by the rca cables.

Mike

 

I have a MSD box and running a system. Your best bet is to go to radioshack and get their 30 amp noise filter, then like said before hook it up as close to the MSD box as possible. Also find a better ground for you head unit. When I did this it got rid of ALL the noise from the MSD box. Hope this helps.

 

ive got one of those radio shack noise filters, mine is a 20amp. however, the instructions are totally whack, how would i wire it up to my msd?

 

Wire the + input to the battery side the + output to the MSD box side and then ground the ground wire. Try to put it as close as you can to the box. I hope this helps

 

i personally dont know how to wire those filters, but i can say that im 99.99% sure that it is your MSD, which is what u were guessing all along. People that i know who have MSD systems in their car all had the radio static problem too - their main problem was location. Where exactly is your MSD box located? Keep it outta the interior and try to keep it as far away from your head unit and any power/signal wires to your audio equipment.

 

i have my msd located as you can see in the pic very far away from the deck, but i run the power line in the yellow loom and you can see that it runs alongside the cowl area, maybe that could be causing some problems....