Grounding the Stereo

Where is the best place to ground the stereo, and amp in a boat?
Also, I get alot of engine whine through my speakers.
Any helpful hints???
Thanks

Originally posted by 89checkmate
Where is the best place to ground the stereo, and amp in a boat?.
Since boats aren't like cars, you should run your own independent ground back to the battery (or engine block). Most boats have a 10 gauge wire running to the dash for all the grounds- definately not enough.
Originally posted by 89checkmate
Also, I get alot of engine whine through my speakers.
Is your equipment grounded to the batteries or engine block? If not, try disconnecting the grounds and run a ground jump wire from the head unit and/or amp to the block- that should eliminate any ground loops.
If the noise goes away, you need a better ground. If not, try the same with the power wires to the Perko switch.

Have also corrected noise problems by grounding only to the battery.IE removing from block.
More times than not though the problem will be with the RCA
cables.(if grounded at battery)
HH, knows what he is talking about the first place to look is the ground i like battery only best.
Although a bad alternator would cause whine also in extreme case.
Customer oreanted shops wont charge to diagnose.

I had this problem one time in a car and I installed a filer that I got at a stereo store and it went away. Cant remember what the filter was called or where it was installed, but it eliminated the problem.

Originally posted by BADBLOWN572
I had this problem one time in a car and I installed a filer that I got at a stereo store and it went away. Cant remember what the filter was called or where it was installed, but it eliminated the problem.
Probably a ground loop isolator- they are installed inline with the RCAs.
The whining is caused by 2 grounding points (the alternator is also using the engine block as a ground) with the RCAs carrying one. A ground loop isolator will filter the noise, but it doesn't fix the problem.
I would use a ground loop isolator as a last resort- sometimes they take away some low frequencies.

Originally posted by Havasu Hangin'
A ground loop isolator will filter the noise, but it doesn't fix the problem.
I would use a ground loop isolator as a last resort- sometimes they take away some low frequencies.
It sometimes doesn't even patch the problem...
So HH, did your bro ever get you hooked up with the Alpine gear?

Originally posted by ROZ
So HH, did your bro ever get you hooked up with the Alpine gear?
No...I'm about to dis-own him from the family.
You guys got any?

Originally posted by Havasu Hangin'
No...I'm about to dis-own him from the family.
You guys got any?
We don't stock family members....
Have you covered on the Alpine stuff :cool:

Originally posted by ROZ
Have you covered on the Alpine stuff :cool:
Hmmmm....maybe I can dis-own him and still get the video stuff.