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Date:         Sun, 09 Apr 1995 21:59:22 PDT
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Josh Poulson <jrp@plaza.ds.adp.com>
Subject:      Re: audio tach 

> if you know someone who is a mobile ham radio enthusiast, he should be able > to give lots of hints/tips about silencing engine noise on car radios and > speakers. also you can check at Radio Shack (or ARRL for books on how to > do this). there are lots of simple cheap things to try first before you > spend big bucks on interference kits.

Especially since when you apply these techniques you are basically stating that "I basically understand my system has become a large antenna because of some ground loop, therefore I'll try to lessen spark gap transmissions in the local area instead of fixing the loop."

It's no good when someone pulls up next to you with some large engine with dirty spark plugs and messes with your tunes.

Let me add to my earlier list:

6) If you have multiple components, try to ground all of the components to the same spot, as they will all share grounds with one another causing hair loss when you want to trace the noise down.

a) One would think that running lines from all the components to the battery will suffice in this case, but that is only true if the battery is close by. Long wires have a inherent resistance that is HIGHER than a chassis ground.

b) Sometimes people try to get around this type of ground loop by cutting the ground line in the audio interconnects. This is not recommended. If you are willing to try to isolate your components, do it the right way, set up balanced interconnects. (Not cheap, but worth it for good sound over long runs)

c) Sometimes you can find components that have a "ground lift". This is rare and probably a bad idea (tm) in car audio.

7) Avoid running audio signal cables parallel to power wires. Planning helps. Run the power lines down the left side of the vehicle, and the audio lines down the right. In a bus this is hard to do.

8) When making joints, be sure to solder and seal the connections well, making it so you cannot pull it apart with your hands.

9) Definitely put fuses on your power lines, close to the battery and for convenience again near the components... but never fuse the ground lines.

10) If there is interest I will post the table of power carried versus recommended gauge of wire.

------------ Joshua R. Poulson, Systems Engineering, ADP Dealer Services, Portland, OR (a car audio enthusiast from time to time... once an owner of the loudest VW Fox in the world... 1140W RMS)


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