Alternator Whine in Headrest Monitor Headphones

[Johnny K]

Help!

Just installed 2 Tview headrest monitors.

Wires goes through the seats, out the bottom, under the seat to under the center console up to the front. Positive is coming from Cigarette Lighter and ground was from the Lockpick, and then I moved it to a bolt for the shifter (used to nuts to sandwich a connector)..

In both grounds I get a bad whine in the headsets..

Besides that the video is great, no issues with the stock speakers, just can use the headphones with the motor on..

Can't seperate power from the audio/video unless I break open the cables..

Also please note, both monitors are grounded to the same post..

Suggestions.. I've read ground loop something and noise filter, etc... no clue.

Thanks!

Johnny K

[Kansas City_Charger]

Are your RCA cables running right next to your +/- wires? Sounds like you are getting noise from your RCA cables.

[Johnny K]

Yes, but the cable has power/audio/video all in one.. so can run individually unless I cut the cable open.. I can try moving the RCA's around at the Mygig to see if that helps.

I'm going to have to open the dash up again and start unplugging/plugging in wires to narrow it down.. possible ground direct to battery... ugh..

[09SRT8sb#400]

Check for a bad ground. Whether its the one from the amp to the car or the battery to the car. Could be a possible solution.

[Wohn]

Are you saying the speakers built into the headrest sound fine but the headphones dont?
Is there any other components hooked up to the monitors or just solo dvd headrests with no av in/out from anywhere?
The whine is going to be from the positive cable running next to the RCA's since the alternator powers thru the +.

Its prob a ground issue, try relocating the ground to a few more places. You could try a big cap on the power wires that may help, something like a 1000uf-4700uf 50v would work. I can send you one if u need, I have several 1000 at my disposal. You would need to get the cap as close to the headrests as possible tho. You could also try to run the power wires to the trunk fuse box and tap power from there, thats what I did and no whine. I have it grounded to one of the bolts under the rubber cover in the bottom of the center console.

[Johnny K]

Thanks for the input.

No speakers in the monitors. Speakers in car (all stock with Mygig) work great with a three screens on.

The monitors put out IR signal to external headphones and they have the whine.. Since the monitors have jacks for headhones, I'll try those to see if they are better, I suspect not..

The monitors don't have DVD players in them. RCA signal comes from the MYGIG, and using an AV cable that plugs in-line into the stock harness that gives you the RCA's and Video outputs (and inputs too) From there I have three "y" splitters that I got from Radio Shack that gives me the 2 yellows, 2 reds, 2 whites that I need for the monitors.. All wires terminate right below the radio with the power spliced into the back of the cig lighter and the ground (both monitor) on a post that holds the shifter down. I have both wires on a "O" connector, and that is sandwiched between 2 nuts on put on the threads for the shifter..

I'll have to mess with it to isolate the problem.

Again, to separate the power from the RCA's I'd have to cut open the cable close to the monitors, cut and splice the power in.

Thanks,

Johnny

[Wohn]

Thanks for the input.

No speakers in the monitors. Speakers in car (all stock with Mygig) work great with a three screens on.

The monitors put out IR signal to external headphones and they have the whine.. Since the monitors have jacks for headhones, I'll try those to see if they are better, I suspect not..

The monitors don't have DVD players in them. RCA signal comes from the MYGIG, and using an AV cable that plugs in-line into the stock harness that gives you the RCA's and Video outputs (and inputs too) From there I have three "y" splitters that I got from Radio Shack that gives me the 2 yellows, 2 reds, 2 whites that I need for the monitors.. All wires terminate right below the radio with the power spliced into the back of the cig lighter and the ground (both monitor) on a post that holds the shifter down. I have both wires on a "O" connector, and that is sandwiched between 2 nuts on put on the threads for the shifter..

I'll have to mess with it to isolate the problem.

Again, to separate the power from the RCA's I'd have to cut open the cable close to the monitors, cut and splice the power in.

Thanks,

Johnny

It sems its the RCA wires are unsheilded, very common. The only way to fix it will most likely be to seperate the power and audio signals. They make isolation transformers for car audio that may fix it but are hit and miss. You can try these 2 products, dont know which one will solve it, but one of both will at least attenuate the whine.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_003S15A/American-International-S-15A-S-25A-15-amp-250-watt.html?tp=2653

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_127SNI1/PAC-SNI-1.html?tp=2653]

they are 13-15 bucks each so pretty cheap. They both will help to eliminate some if not all of the whine. Give em a try, most local stereo places will have similar products too if you dont want to wait for shipping.

[Johnny K]

Very cool!! Thanks!! I'll give them a shot before tearing into the cables.

Much appreciated.

JK

[Wohn]

NP, thats what we are here for, just let us know if they help so maybe it can be added to the how do i do everything thread.

[Johnny K]

http://cgi.ebay.com/TVIEW-7-BLACK-HEADREST-MONITORS-VIDEO-GAMES-2-HEADSETS_W0QQitemZ390101152051QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad3d73133

Can get same ones with no headphones for $149.95 shipped. Besides the buzz (lol), I'm happy.

JK