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Amp Noise Question

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by genoman, Mar 3, 2007.

  1. genoman

    genoman New Member

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    I just had an amp hooked up to my Prius head unit and I am having a high pitched buzz coming thru the front tweeters, not very loud, but noticeable. Now the tricky part, it only buzzes when the car is on and running, not when on auxilary only. It buzzes whether or not the stereo is on or off. The power wire to the amp is on one side of the car(driver's side) and rca's are on the other(passenger side). I tried Ground Loop Isolators and they made it worse(louder). I used all Monster cables to hook up. Has anyone else had a similar problem and if so, what did you do? It seems to have something to do with the cars electrical current, but I don't know that much about this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
     
    #1 genoman, Mar 3, 2007
  2. member

    member New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(genoman @ Mar 3 2007, 09:15 AM) [snapback]399490[/snapback]</div>
    This is probably noise from the inverters. The only way to stop that is to put a line filter on the amp power as close to the amp as possible, and run a very solid ground from the amp to to chassis.
     
    #2 member, Mar 3, 2007
  3. genoman

    genoman New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Display Name @ Mar 3 2007, 02:27 PM) [snapback]399613[/snapback]</div>
    Display Name,
    Inverters? Not quite sure what that is or what type of line filter you are talking about? How does this differ from the ground loop isolators? I do have a good ground very close to amp on chassis. Thanks in advance.
     
    #3 genoman, Mar 3, 2007
  4. member

    member New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(genoman @ Mar 3 2007, 08:37 PM) [snapback]399731[/snapback]</div>
    The inverters are high frequency switching power supplies/regulators that manage the voltages/currents between charging, battery and generator power. You can hear them when the car is idling and charging, sort of a high frequency sound.

    A ground loop isolator, not even sure what that is, since you'd eliminate a ground loop by simply providing a single good ground. Having a ground loop could very well cause line noise however if you did have one.

    A filter of the kind sold to eliminate the whine on a radio from ignition currents would work here. Specifically a low-pass filter, but it may not be called that for this application in auto supply stores.
     
    #4 member, Mar 3, 2007
  5. MainePrius

    MainePrius New Member

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    I would take some spare wire and run it from the amp's ground out to the battery negitive post. If that eliminates the noise then you know its the ground that is the problem. If its the ground try reducing the length of the run from the amp to the ground location. Also, make sure there is no paint where the ground connects to the frame. Hope this helps.
     
    #5 MainePrius, Mar 4, 2007
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