STEREO, GROUNDING?

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 8:31 am Post subject: STEREO, GROUNDING?

My $50,000 2002 Team Edition has a hiss coming from the speakers but only when running. When we just sit and float the system sounds great, clean and crisp with good sound. Problem is as soon as I start the boat I get the annoying hiss, so I'm fairly certain it can't be the speakers and it has to be a ground.

I know you guys have gone over this in the past but I never had any issues until this year. I'm looking for a few things I should look at before I pull it out of the water and bring it to the dealer or even worse a stereo guy. How should I test it to know for sure? Where should I be looking for the ground and where is the best place to ground. I'm sure the factory did it right but you never know. Do speakers need a ground? Could the amp have a bad ground?

needmoreair · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 9:43 am Post subject:

Well - I'm no electrician - but the bonehead mechanics left my ground unhooked when working on one of my batteries last week. I hooked it up to the negative battery terminal and it works/sounds fine.

RYDOG · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 163 City: NOR CAL

RCA's are getting feedback from the power line.. they are too close

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 12:12 pm Post subject:

RCA's didn't move from last year and it is the factory Kicker system that came with the boat. I didn't have this noise last year from what I remember.

I'll check the battery area again, I didn't see any extra wires laying around though.

Any way I can test so I know for sure if it's a ground?

Thanks

Wake upPp · Soul Rider Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 338 City: NOR-CAL

you are probably picking up ignition noise. buy and install a noise suppressor. very simple to put in.

George · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 552 City: Chattanooga

My system did the same thing was fine one summer then the next got a hiss. turned out that i need to change the ground on the deck from factory to my distrabution block now it sounds great.

needmoreair · Posted: Jun 10, 2003 6:15 am Post subject:

Check the amp or the head unit where the ground should run from and see if you can follow it from there...assuming a grd wire was put in Question

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 11, 2003 11:45 am Post subject:

It sounds like I should just run a new ground and see what that gets me.

What kills me is last year it sounded great.

gryffin · Criminal Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 89 City: SoCal

The same thing happened to my friend. We just took it to the shop and they did it quick and easy. It is not that hard to do, but in our case the ground was rather inaccesable. Good luck with it.

Lyte Skin · Outlaw Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 210 City: San Angelo, TX

i have the same problem
i have moved the rca's outta the way of the power wire, changed rca's to a shielded set. i just get feedback from the subs and nothing else. the other speakers sound fine.
i am not sure what it is.
anyone have a clue just pm me.

Alan Whitaker · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 116 City: Whiteland

Same problem here, only mine pops and hisses when I change stations or cd tracks plus hums with engine noise. With the amp off all is great just when the amp is turned on the problem begins.