Proper grounding source for audio system

[JoshP]

Hi all, I'm hoping someone here can help me out.

A couple of months ago I integrated the aux-in kit from Becker with my audio system (CDR220). When I first put everything together I had the awful alternator whine, and so I went out and got a ground loop isolator. It sounded a lot better so I put everything back together and kind of forgot about it. However, over the last bit I've noticed the whine more and more, and even though it isn't "awful", it isn't great. I've searched on the net to find out where the actual grounding wire is actually grounded out but haven't been able to find anything on the subject.

My thinking is if I can connect to the same grounding source as the rest of the system, the whine will be completely eliminated?

Is my logic sound, and if it is, does anyone know how I can use the same grounding source?

Thanks

[Orient Express]

A source of ground loop noise can be as simple as the re-routing of the audio signal wires. I have found moving the iPod connector cable around can make the whine go away.

I just updated my iPod/Becker aux-in rig with the Blitzsafe Universal iPod/iPhone adapter in combination with a ground loop isolator between the adapter and the Becker aux-in cable. This setup has completely eliminated all of the ground loop noise I had with my old iPod rig.

I also found that the 2 best ground points for this sort of stuff are either the telephone power wiring connector under the front center console, or one of the mounting lugs for the airbag controller, also under the front center console.

[JoshP]

A source of ground loop noise can be as simple as the re-routing of the audio signal wires. I have found moving the iPod connector cable around can make the whine go away.

I just updated my iPod/Becker aux-in rig with the Blitzsafe Universal iPod/iPhone adapter in combination with a ground loop isolator between the adapter and the Becker aux-in cable. This setup has completely eliminated all of the ground loop noise I had with my old iPod rig.

I also found that the 2 best ground points for this sort of stuff are either the telephone power wiring connector under the front center console, or one of the mounting lugs for the airbag controller, also under the front center console.

Do you have any pictures, or marked up already available pictures showing where you've grounded them out? I think I grounded mine out on the telephone connector, but it has been a while since I've had everything torn apart.

When you say "completely eliminated", do you hear anything (as far as whine related to the alternator) when your ipod is turned off and the audio source is still set to aux?

[Orient Express]

A source of ground loop noise can be as simple as the re-routing of the audio signal Do you have any pictures, or marked up already available pictures showing where you've grounded them out? I think I grounded mine out on the telephone connector, but it has been a while since I've had everything torn apart.

When you say "completely eliminated", do you hear anything (as far as whine related to the alternator) when your ipod is turned off and the audio source is still set to aux?

You can rerouting the signal cable to get less whine, but it is an imprecise science. I have my iPod cable coming out of the ashtray, and I have found with my old rig that by just physically turning iPod a certain way, the hysteresis loop would collapse and the whine would disappear. It is a hit or miss situation.

The telephone connector has a good ground, and that is where I assume you got your switched and unswitched power too. If you look next to the telephone connector on top of the transmission hump under the front center console, you will see a silver box with an orange connector and 4 bolts attaching it to the hump. That is the airbag controller. I put my ground to one of those bolts.

My new rig has no whine, and with no iPod (in my case iPhone) connected, there is just a trace with the volume cranked all the way up. To be honest, at that volume, there is more amplifier noise, than ground loop noise. With a signal attached, the whine is unnoticeable. I think that most of the credit goes to the Blitzsafe box. I highly recommend their interface.

[juniinc]

try to re-route your signal wires or RCA cables if U got em as orient suggested.

try to re- locate grounding bonding point closer to battery.