C5 ground?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 633
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From: ON
C5 ground?
Does anyone know of a good place for ground within the car? I just had a new system installed and they used the -ve of the battery for ground. Now I have engine noise. On my old C5, they apparently drilled a hole and ground to the chassis, but didn't want to drill this time around.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 100,672
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From: Cleveland OH
Re: C5 ground? (PbPedis)
I think that you can either start my working with the RCA's ... or you should drill ... I ran mine back to the battery ... but got noise ... and when I upgraded the RCA's it went away ... you may want to try that first ...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 831
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From: Austin TX
Re: C5 ground? (PbPedis)
The best place to ground your system is back to the battery negative terminal. The engine noise that you're hearing is not likely being introduced because of your ground. Did they run the cables and such in your car or did you? If they did, do you know how they did it? I'm specifically interested in where the RCA interconnects are run in relation to power and ground wires to your amp? If they are running next to and parallel with them, then this is most likely your source. This will introduce interference into your interconnects and this is being amplified and sent to your speakers. It's a good idea to run those things on opposite sides of the car, or at least a good 6" or so apart from one another. Also, using interconnects that employ twisted pair cabling will help reject a large part of the interference. This isn't necessary always, but can't hurt.
Good luck.
Chris
Good luck.
Chris
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From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: C5 ground? (Ten 99)
The best place to ground your system is back to the battery negative terminal. The engine noise that you're hearing is not likely being introduced because of your ground. Did they run the cables and such in your car or did you? If they did, do you know how they did it? I'm specifically interested in where the RCA interconnects are run in relation to power and ground wires to your amp? If they are running next to and parallel with them, then this is most likely your source. This will introduce interference into your interconnects and this is being amplified and sent to your speakers. It's a good idea to run those things on opposite sides of the car, or at least a good 6" or so apart from one another. Also, using interconnects that employ twisted pair cabling will help reject a large part of the interference. This isn't necessary always, but can't hurt.
Good luck.
Chris
Good luck.
Chris
Ten 99 is right about the signal and power wires, they should be run on opposite sides of the car from one another. Also make sure your ground wire is a least the same size or larger than your power wire. ;)
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From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: C5 ground? (NewVetteLover)
A seat-belt anchor bolt is probably a good place to ground.
Is that a true ground?
Is that a true ground?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 633
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From: ON
Re: C5 ground? (The^Nomad)
Thanks for the help guys. Ten 99: they ran the cables but I would think they did not run the RCAs alongside the power. Then again, they seem too lazy to troubleshoot the problem for me, so who knows. The amp gain is now down to the point where I can't hear the whine, yet still get enough volume for my tunes, so I think I'll leave it at that for now. I don't feel like ripping the car apart to reground it.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Cary, NC
Re: C5 ground? (The^Nomad)
A seat-belt anchor bolt is probably a good place to ground.
Is that a true ground?
No that is not a good place to ground. Stay away from seat belt bolts. Ground to the seat bolt that bolts the seat to the floor pan. That bolt is a 12v ground.
Is that a true ground?
No that is not a good place to ground. Stay away from seat belt bolts. Ground to the seat bolt that bolts the seat to the floor pan. That bolt is a 12v ground.
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From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: C5 ground? (FarmerBob2001)
A seat-belt anchor bolt is probably a good place to ground.
Is that a true ground?
No that is not a good place to ground. Stay away from seat belt bolts. Ground to the seat bolt that bolts the seat to the floor pan. That bolt is a 12v ground.
Why is the seat-belt anchor bolt not a good ground? I wasn't sure about it, which is why I said 'probably'. I figured the seat-belt anchor would be bolted directly to the frame for strength. Is that not the case? Or if it is, is the frame not a good ground? Thanks.
Is that a true ground?
No that is not a good place to ground. Stay away from seat belt bolts. Ground to the seat bolt that bolts the seat to the floor pan. That bolt is a 12v ground.
Why is the seat-belt anchor bolt not a good ground? I wasn't sure about it, which is why I said 'probably'. I figured the seat-belt anchor would be bolted directly to the frame for strength. Is that not the case? Or if it is, is the frame not a good ground? Thanks.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Cary, NC
Re: C5 ground? (The^Nomad)
Ah, I didn't know the bolt was covered with plastic.
What about the piece the bolt bolts to? Is it also covered in plastic? Couldn't you just scrape some of it away, and then use it as a ground? Why would they coat an 'interior' bolt to protect it from rusting?
Oh well, if the 'seat' anchor bolt works, and isn't covered in plastic, might as well use that.
What about the piece the bolt bolts to? Is it also covered in plastic? Couldn't you just scrape some of it away, and then use it as a ground? Why would they coat an 'interior' bolt to protect it from rusting?
Oh well, if the 'seat' anchor bolt works, and isn't covered in plastic, might as well use that.
