I completely finished my installation (pics after I vacuum out the car), but I have a horribly annoying problem. I get that squealing and whining when the car is running and I accelerate. I thought that it was a bad ground, so I disconnected the grounds, dremeled out the metal that they are connected to, and then retightened them. The problem did not go away. I know that there probably is a simple fix for this, I just can't figure it out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

http://www.davidnavone.com/ makes the best filters and adapters.

 

Try turning your gains down and see if the problem persists. A little bit can make a difference in any noise in the system.

 

Not sure if this applies to you, but, you don't want to route signal wire next to power wire because that could result in noise entering the sound system. If power cable and signal cable must cross, cross them perpendicularly.

 

I mounted little $8 alternator whine filters on my headend and CD player. They'll handle 10 amps each. I would try those things first before looking at the amplifiers where the choke coils are going to run you a bit more than $8.

Alternator noise is a pretty normal condition and enters in on the power wires - not the signal wires. The key to it is that it sounds like a whirl and it varies in frequency with the speed of the engine.

Ignition noise is a popping - like a whole bunch of popcorn going off vice the whirl sound of the alternator. Ignition noise requires resistor wires and possibly a by-pass cap on the old fashion distributor input.

 

Yep, that is exactly what I have. Any of those alternator whine filters that you recommend? I just want to do it right and do it all at once.

 

I would say to find another ground location also. Ground potential of your amp should be very close to ground potential of battery. Example: 10ohms from negative battery terminal to car chasis. approx 10ohms between negative battery post and amp grounding location.

 

I have a slight whine, but it only happens when the AC is on. When its not, everything is clean. I tried filters, and even tried an alternator blocker on the power lines . . . any other suggestions?

I ran the speaker wires down the center concole, and the power leads down the side of the car. So those are isolated.

 

Ideally the choke coil should be as close to the item it's protecting. There's not much science only that a pi type filter is better than just a coil. In a pi type there is a cap on either side of the choke - you can tell these guys as they have three wires - a positive in and out - plus a third wire for grounding.