engine noise playing through subs
1382
21
So I put my subs in the bed of my truck while I'm building my new box. They start spazzing out and my friend realizes it's with the engine. Why?
It's also happened with other subs I've put there before.
I also took them out. Put them in my tonneau cover. Set them on the ground. By the bed and by the door. Even in the passenger seat. Still did it.
I put in a 4 gauge ground in yesterday too. Is that possibly why? Grounded it to the battery.
Thanks.
It's also happened with other subs I've put there before.
I also took them out. Put them in my tonneau cover. Set them on the ground. By the bed and by the door. Even in the passenger seat. Still did it.
I put in a 4 gauge ground in yesterday too. Is that possibly why? Grounded it to the battery.
Thanks.
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
Joined
·
8,089 Posts
Leave it grounded to the battery but install the ground loop isolator. That should solve your problem.
Is it actually engine noise that you're hearing or is it a humming sound that goes up and down with the RPM of the engine?
Is it actually engine noise that you're hearing or is it a humming sound that goes up and down with the RPM of the engine?
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
It actually does it when the engine is off too.
How exactly does a ground loop isolator work?
How exactly does a ground loop isolator work?
Joined
·
8,089 Posts
K, second question before we go further into this... did you run your amp power cable and RCA cables right beside each other from the front of the truck back to your amp? Or are they on separate sides of the truck?
Here's a link explaining ground loop isolators:
http://www.bcae1.com/glisoltr.htm
Here's a link explaining ground loop isolators:
http://www.bcae1.com/glisoltr.htm
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
I have my power and ground running on the left side of my truck, same side as the battery. Ran into the cab, then around the back side of the cab to the amp behind the passenger seat. The power is wrapped with the plastic wrap protection stuff. The ground has no wrap.
The RCAs are with the remote from the radio to the amp on the right side. So yes. They are opposite side.
Then I have the speaker wore going from the amp, into a hole in the bottom of my cab the back up the side of the bed, through another hole. And then too the subs.
Also, I eventually got the terminal crimped on to a sufficient level. But what's the best way to attach terminals to heavy gauge wire?
The RCAs are with the remote from the radio to the amp on the right side. So yes. They are opposite side.
Then I have the speaker wore going from the amp, into a hole in the bottom of my cab the back up the side of the bed, through another hole. And then too the subs.
Also, I eventually got the terminal crimped on to a sufficient level. But what's the best way to attach terminals to heavy gauge wire?
Joined
·
8,089 Posts
Okay, well that shouldn't be a problem then....
How do you have your system tuned? Is the gain on your amp turned way up? The best way to tune a system is to turn the sub volume on your deck all the way up and then adjust the amp as required. The less gain (and therefore power) you have going to the amp the better. With less gain you wouldn't notice that sound as much either. But it does sound like you will definitely need the ground loop isolator as well.
If the terminal is crimped on tight enough where you can't pull it off then that's probably good. If it seems a little loose of you're worried about it soldering it is never a bad idea.
How do you have your system tuned? Is the gain on your amp turned way up? The best way to tune a system is to turn the sub volume on your deck all the way up and then adjust the amp as required. The less gain (and therefore power) you have going to the amp the better. With less gain you wouldn't notice that sound as much either. But it does sound like you will definitely need the ground loop isolator as well.
If the terminal is crimped on tight enough where you can't pull it off then that's probably good. If it seems a little loose of you're worried about it soldering it is never a bad idea.
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
I can't tell you exactly how it's tuned right now, but it's the same as it was when it was in my cab. And it worked there.
So basically just muscle my way crimping it?
So basically just muscle my way crimping it?
Joined
·
8,089 Posts
Okay, so you had the whole system hooked up inside the cab of the truck and it worked and then you moved the subs into your box and how you're getting the issue?
Yes, just crimping them as tight as you can should be enough. I have never had any issues doing that.
Yes, just crimping them as tight as you can should be enough. I have never had any issues doing that.
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
Yes. The only difference is a bigger ground, to a better location, aka the battery.
It has done it another time with different subs. I literally just unhooked it from my subs then ran a line out the door for fun and it started doing it. Hooked it back to mine and it worked fine.
It has done it another time with different subs. I literally just unhooked it from my subs then ran a line out the door for fun and it started doing it. Hooked it back to mine and it worked fine.
Joined
·
8,089 Posts
Hmmm that's kinda weird. Right now I still say install the ground loop isolator. That should fix your problem.
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
Wait. I miss read. I had literally the same set up with the box in the middle seat. I had to remove that so I could take measurements for my new box. I put the CURRENT box in the bed of the truck. Not the new box.
Joined
·
8,089 Posts
Okay... so what has changed then is your ground going to the battery and now your sub wiring going from your amp inside the cab to your sub in the bed of the truck correct?
Is it at all possible that something is interfering with your speaker wire going from your amp to your sub outside the cab?
Is it at all possible that something is interfering with your speaker wire going from your amp to your sub outside the cab?
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
Yes, that's correct.
It's pretty bad wire. But it's the same wire I've used to test and mess with lots of other things.
I'm going to a local car audio place that I go to alot, I'm going to pick up a ground loop isolator and new speaker wire.
It's not because the ground is 4 gauge and the power is 6, is it? I mean, before it was 6 gauge power (same) and like 14 or 12 gauge ground. Hah. Maybe 10.it was terrible.
It's pretty bad wire. But it's the same wire I've used to test and mess with lots of other things.
I'm going to a local car audio place that I go to alot, I'm going to pick up a ground loop isolator and new speaker wire.
It's not because the ground is 4 gauge and the power is 6, is it? I mean, before it was 6 gauge power (same) and like 14 or 12 gauge ground. Hah. Maybe 10.it was terrible.
Joined
·
8,089 Posts
Ya, I'd definitely go to your local shop and talk to them about it for another opinion. They should know more about the subject that most people on the forum. I'm sure it's something they see quite often and they should know how to fix it no problem.
The fact that your ground is bigger than your power wire shouldn't be a problem at all...
The fact that your ground is bigger than your power wire shouldn't be a problem at all...
Joined
·
8,089 Posts
The whole frame of the truck is grounded to the battery.... by grounding your amp to the frame it's just giving it a harder path to get back to the battery giving the ground circuit more resistance which is the opposite of what you want....
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
Is a noise filter the same as an isolator? That's all I'm seeing at this shop. RCA filter/isolator or not?
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
Nevermind. I got the isolator.
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
Nevermind. I got the isolator.
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
