Engine Noise In My Head-set

[motorgod]

I am running a GPS, ICOM communications, and XM on the FJR. I have everything mixed in a Starcom that sits underneath the rear seat. The Starcom is wired into a switched power source. The relay for the switched power gets its juice from the rear running lights. I have everyting grounded on a wire I ran from the batttery to the rear seat area. Nothing is grounded to the frame.

Where is the engine whine coming from? It is present when I first fire up the bike and never goes away. This is before I turn on the GPS, ICOM, and XM. Iwas told that I needed an inline suppressor that runs between the XM and the Starcom. I don't see how that will help since the noise is present before I turn on the XM. I do not have any noise from the XM when I connect to it directly.

I'm thinking I need a noise suppresion device on the OUTPUT side of the Starcom before it connects to my helmet. If I am on the right track, any suggestions as to where I could get an in-line noise suppressor?

 

[RonBB]

I can't speak to this specific case but rather the general. Generally the filtering is put at the input of amplifiers and or power supplies. This is to keep the noise out of the amplifier & from being amplified along with the desired signal (music, audio, etc). I have audio gear fed from the power at the tail lights as well. The manufacturer of that gear (J & M) supplied an inline filter for the power supply circuit to help keep the noise out. Any extra circuits should be routed away from the ignition system components & shielded if possible as the extra wires act like antennas. Resistor spark plugs are also suggested. I don't have any problems. Good luck. PS Great Avatar!

 

[valetz]

I do not have any noise from the XM when I connect to it directly.

You've got a ground loop....

There are multiple ways to solve this.....

I had one just from a GPS & XM plugged into my autocom.....

This can be solved several ways... the one that worked for me was getting the XM power adapter that Hoon Hardware sells, but if using multiple items you may want to go another route....

I plan to go eventually to a Mixit which should also do the same thing.... (eliminating the ground loop)

Another options is a ground loop isolator, it all depends on what you want to be able to do w/ your system at the end of the day.....

Also... Does your GPS need a isolation cable...? Do you have one...?

-bvw.

 

[FJRrabid]

I had the exact same problem and used the Hoon product it is on their web site. It corrected to problem entirely.

JWS

 

[galxy5]

Yea!!

I know what you mean,,I get this sound of my bike reving in my sleep!!!

OOhhhh!!! you ment while your on it!!!!

 

[BrunDog]

You have a ground loop. What that means is that different devices are referenced to different grounds and tying them together (via audio cables) creates current flow through the loop, thereby affecting the audio.

All of your electronic items need to be tied to the same ground point. That alone should nearly elimintate your issue. If not, or this is not possible, troubleshoot by selectively connecting and disconnecting some of the devices to determine the offender, then put a GLI between them.

Good luck!

-BD

 

[motorgod]

I conected all of the grounds to a single ground wire coming off the battery via a wire nut. I have a Starcom brand sound isolator on both the GPS and XM. The whine as been reduced but not eliminated. Guess my next change will be the Hoon power lead. That's gonna suck big time...I have all my wires runnig nice a clean back to the Starcom.....now I get to tear it apart :angry:

 

[dcarver]

I conected all of the grounds to a single ground wire coming off the battery via a wire nut. I have a Starcom brand sound isolator on both the GPS and XM. The whine as been reduced but not eliminated. Guess my next change will be the Hoon power lead. That's gonna suck big time...I have all my wires runnig nice a clean back to the Starcom.....now I get to tear it apart

So Motorgod, did you get the problem fixed? Guess who's there now? :glare:

 

[HaulinAshe]

Sometimes I get motor noise from the speaker jack of my Escort 8500 RD, even though I am running shielded audio cables and powering from the headlight circuit. It's easy to pick up noise on the bike power from most any spot. My brand new 07 shows as much as 5.1 ohms of resistance between chassis ground and battery negative at several places.

I've found as much as 1.5 ohms difference in the wiring harness itself and battery negative. So I'm on the lookout for a small noise filter that can wired in-line with the device. Radio Shack, Circuit City etc. no longer carry such things. Car audio places only carry big amperage filters.

There's no way I'm running a dedicated ground wire for every up-front farkle back to the battery. I'll buy some chokes and capacitors and build some noise filters first.

(Hey dirt Bro, you want me to make one for you???)

 

[dcarver]

Sometimes I get motor noise from the speaker jack of my Escort 8500 RD, even though I am running shielded audio cables and powering from the headlight circuit. It's easy to pick up noise on the bike power from most any spot. My brand new 07 shows as much as 5.1 ohms of resistance between chassis ground and battery negative at several places.
I've found as much as 1.5 ohms difference in the wiring harness itself and battery negative. So I'm on the lookout for a small noise filter that can wired in-line with the device. Radio Shack, Circuit City etc. no longer carry such things. Car audio places only carry big amperage filters.

There's no way I'm running a dedicated ground wire for every up-front farkle back to the battery. I'll buy some chokes and capacitors and build some noise filters first.

(Hey dirt Bro, you want me to make one for you???)

Jeff - I have the same problem with my Escort 8500 too. Plug in the audio cable and I can hear the ignition coils popping. The CD player is quiet (AA battery powered, isolated). I'm going to run a ground back to battery negative off the blue seas box in a few moments. Don't think it will fix it though. Jeff - did find this link for relatively small filter - is this what you're looking for?

 

[HaulinAshe]

Jeff - did find this link for relatively small filter - is this what you're looking for?

Not exactly. Years ago you used to see a small choke&capacitor unit (in the CB days) that spliced in series with the positive lead and had a small gauge wire that tapped into the negative side. The closer you placed it to the load(radio) the better it performed.

I suspect they are still made, just much harder to find. Or I may have to brush-up on my Ohms Law and soldering skills. Figure I could make the filter and dip it in screwdriver dip.

 

[v65]

Out of curiosity, did you shrink wrap all of the connectors? I read somewhere (on this forum) that crimped connectors that are not shrink wrapped can be another source of noise. Along with the others suggestions here I was religious about covering up connections and I don't have a hint of noise (from an autocom).

 

[MarkFJR]

Out of curiosity, did you shrink wrap all of the connectors? I read somewhere (on this forum) that crimped connectors that are not shrink wrapped can be another source of noise. Along with the others suggestions here I was religious about covering up connections and I don't have a hint of noise (from an autocom).

Did anyone to come a final answer here , I also have an Autocom, Valentine and GPS. Engine buzz in the headset bugs me, I live with it but am looking for a solution, preferably an inline filter of sorts, I move the electronics package from bike to bike.

 

[dcarver]

Out of curiosity, did you shrink wrap all of the connectors? I read somewhere (on this forum) that crimped connectors that are not shrink wrapped can be another source of noise. Along with the others suggestions here I was religious about covering up connections and I don't have a hint of noise (from an autocom).

Did anyone to come a final answer here , I also have an Autocom, Valentine and GPS. Engine buzz in the headset bugs me, I live with it but am looking for a solution, preferably an inline filter of sorts, I move the electronics package from bike to bike.

MarkFJR, I don't have answers yet. I was about to reroute my power and signal lines when my bike was diagnosed with very low compression in cylinders 3 and 4. My route was from the battery, across the front, then down the left hand side frame rail to a blue seas fuse block located under the riders seat.

I'll post back with results after I get the bike back. sigh.

 

[FJRski]

I have a problem with ignition noise above 4500 RPM from a Zumo & AutoCom.

I ran a common ground back to the battery. I tinned all connections and shrink-wrapped many of them.

Power comes off the accessory box but it runs down down the right side of the frame.

Anybody have a magic bullet?

 

[Chips]

In my case, the noise was due to the radar detector and GPS having monaural outputs and the inputs to my audio mixer being stereo. I solved this with a $17 ground loop isolator from Radio Shack.

On one side of the isolator, I used the included dual RCA to 1/8 stereo cable to plug into my audio mixer. On the other side, I snipped off both RCA leads and soldered on mono jacks that fit my GPS and radar detector. The net effect is that I end up using a single port in my audio mixer and get rid of the engine whine. The only odd thing is that GPS comes to one ear and radar to the other.

Ground Loop Isolator

Model: 270-054 | Catalog #: 270-054

Eliminate the electrical noise and hum caused by ground loops with this ground loop isolator.

 

[sleddoc]

I am running a GPS, ICOM communications, and XM on the FJR. I have everything mixed in a Starcom that sits underneath the rear seat. The Starcom is wired into a switched power source. The relay for the switched power gets its juice from the rear running lights. I have everyting grounded on a wire I ran from the batttery to the rear seat area. Nothing is grounded to the frame.
Where is the engine whine coming from? It is present when I first fire up the bike and never goes away. This is before I turn on the GPS, ICOM, and XM. Iwas told that I needed an inline suppressor that runs between the XM and the Starcom. I don't see how that will help since the noise is present before I turn on the XM. I do not have any noise from the XM when I connect to it directly.

I'm thinking I need a noise suppresion device on the OUTPUT side of the Starcom before it connects to my helmet. If I am on the right track, any suggestions as to where I could get an in-line noise suppressor?

This might be completely out in left field but are the spark plugs resistor plugs ?? this used to happen on older cars when resistor spark plugs were not installed. :blink:

 

[evilmedic13]

Anybody figure out the solution to this? Guess who's there now too?

 

[Bounce]

i had alternator noise in my audio as long as i was grounding my stuff to the chassis. once i ran everything back to the battery (via a ground block), it went away.

the fjr's charging system is of the kind that shunts all excess power to chassis ground so it may cause noise in audio systems if you choose to ground your stuff to anything other than the battery.

https://www.fjr-tips.org/mods/pdb/pdb.html

talks about power blocks, ground blocks, and going to the battery for a good common ground.