ground wiring problem for amp - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Driving-In-The-Rain · 10-29-2003, 12:38 AM

This is a real head hitter. I installed a new 1000w amp. The power is 4g the ground is 8. When i set everything up all the wiring went fine, until i get to the ground. I get the feedback, amp whine, engine noise, what ever you call it, and its loud as hell. I've tried grounding it 3 different places in the trunk, and even taking out the plug at the bottom of the trunk and running the wire to the frame...doesnt work. Any ideas on what i can do to get rid of the noise? =/ thx

skoob240 · 10-29-2003, 02:31 AM

I have the same problem. I am not using the factory wiring though. Everything is powered through a distribution block. The only way I could get rid of the whine was to not connect my antenna.

kandyflip445 · 10-29-2003, 09:44 AM

Here is a VERY good website that has tutorials on car stereo and just some general electronics. Look at the RCA part. Here you go.

Did you run your power wire on the opposite side of the RCA's? If you have the power wire running by the RCA's then it can cause the whine. I reccomend running the power wire through the drivers side and the RCA's on the passenger side. The ECU is located on the pass. side and it COULD cause problems. Just better to be safe. Also make sure your grounding point is free of paint. You could seal it up with some silicone after it's done, if you want, but just make sure it has good contact.

Driving-In-The-Rain · 10-29-2003, 10:38 AM

kick a*s...ill go try that antenna idea in a min, and thx for the website ill get to reading that a little later today

slos14 · 10-29-2003, 02:32 PM

OK ARE U RUNNING YOUR RCAS AND POWER WIRE ON THE SAME SIDE IF SO THATS WHAT IT IS .... ALSO IF U ARE RUNNING A 4G POWER WIRE YOU MUST RUN A 4G GROUND ...

JUSTIN

andrave · 10-29-2003, 03:55 PM

thats a myth, about running them down the same side.

anyway, first you need equal ground and power. So upgrade your ground to 4 gauge if your power wire is 4 gauge.
Electricity flows from negative to positive.

Second, how do you KNOW you are getting a good ground? did you check it with a multi meter?
drill into the chassis and use a wire brush to get down to bare metal.
If you are still getting alternator whine its probably coming through on a ground loop.
run a 10 gauge wire from your amp's ground to your head units ground. If the problem goes away then you probably need to upgrade your head unit's ground. take some 10 or 12 gauge and ground it to the frame. the factory dash grounds tend to suck ass.

kandyflip445 · 10-29-2003, 09:39 PM

It isn't a myth. I've seen it make a difference. It just depends on the shielding of both cables(RCA and power).

shaunred · 05-22-2004, 06:03 PM

It's not your power or ground wires, its your RCA cables. Cheap cables pick up more interference. Get some good cables and it should be alright.

10-29-2003, 12:38 AM	#1
Driving-In-The-Rain Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Smoggy LA Posts: 14 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ground wiring problem for amp This is a real head hitter. I installed a new 1000w amp. The power is 4g the ground is 8. When i set everything up all the wiring went fine, until i get to the ground. I get the feedback, amp whine, engine noise, what ever you call it, and its loud as hell. I've tried grounding it 3 different places in the trunk, and even taking out the plug at the bottom of the trunk and running the wire to the frame...doesnt work. Any ideas on what i can do to get rid of the noise? =/ thx __________________ "Theres not a problem that i cant fix.........because i can do it in the mix. and if your man gives you trouble you just move out on the double and you dont let it trouble your brain, cuz away goes trouble down the drain. i said away goes trouble down the drain."

10-29-2003, 09:44 AM	#3
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Here is a VERY good website that has tutorials on car stereo and just some general electronics. Look at the RCA part. Here you go. Did you run your power wire on the opposite side of the RCA's? If you have the power wire running by the RCA's then it can cause the whine. I reccomend running the power wire through the drivers side and the RCA's on the passenger side. The ECU is located on the pass. side and it COULD cause problems. Just better to be safe. Also make sure your grounding point is free of paint. You could seal it up with some silicone after it's done, if you want, but just make sure it has good contact. __________________ My 240 vBgarage

10-29-2003, 10:38 AM	#4
Driving-In-The-Rain Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Smoggy LA Posts: 14 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	kick a*s...ill go try that antenna idea in a min, and thx for the website ill get to reading that a little later today __________________ "Theres not a problem that i cant fix.........because i can do it in the mix. and if your man gives you trouble you just move out on the double and you dont let it trouble your brain, cuz away goes trouble down the drain. i said away goes trouble down the drain."

10-29-2003, 02:32 PM	#5
slos14 Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: ofallon mo Age: 40 Posts: 125 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	CAR AUDIO OK ARE U RUNNING YOUR RCAS AND POWER WIRE ON THE SAME SIDE IF SO THATS WHAT IT IS .... ALSO IF U ARE RUNNING A 4G POWER WIRE YOU MUST RUN A 4G GROUND ... JUSTIN __________________ -justin

10-29-2003, 09:39 PM	#7
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	It isn't a myth. I've seen it make a difference. It just depends on the shielding of both cables(RCA and power). __________________ My 240 vBgarage

10-29-2003, 02:31 AM	#2
skoob240 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NOLA Age: 51 Posts: 37 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have the same problem. I am not using the factory wiring though. Everything is powered through a distribution block. The only way I could get rid of the whine was to not connect my antenna.

10-29-2003, 03:55 PM	#6
andrave BANNED Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Burton WV Posts: 2,350 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	thats a myth, about running them down the same side. anyway, first you need equal ground and power. So upgrade your ground to 4 gauge if your power wire is 4 gauge. Electricity flows from negative to positive. Second, how do you KNOW you are getting a good ground? did you check it with a multi meter? drill into the chassis and use a wire brush to get down to bare metal. If you are still getting alternator whine its probably coming through on a ground loop. run a 10 gauge wire from your amp's ground to your head units ground. If the problem goes away then you probably need to upgrade your head unit's ground. take some 10 or 12 gauge and ground it to the frame. the factory dash grounds tend to suck ass.

05-22-2004, 06:03 PM	#8
shaunred Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kansas City Posts: 20 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It's not your power or ground wires, its your RCA cables. Cheap cables pick up more interference. Get some good cables and it should be alright.