How to Hook up a Ground Loop Isolator
In many car audio installations, because there is no direct connection to ground, the differences in ground signals can cause electrical distortion in the signals. Normally, this isn't a big problem for traditional electric signals, but when audio is involved, these irregularities can cause unwanted noise and hum in the music. Ground loop isolators will remove this hum, making your music crystal clear, like it was meant to be.
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Instructions
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1
Unhook the red contact from the vehicle's battery. It's always a good idea to disconnect the power before working on car audio installations.
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2
Locate the amplifier. In most car audio installations, the amplifier is usually behind a seat or in the trunk. If you can't find it, try tracing the wire from your sub-woofer or speakers. This will lead to your amplifier.
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3
Find the RCA plugs on the amplifier and unplug them. They are red and white, and look like the common connectors from your DVD player to your TV. These cables carry the signal from the head unit to the amplifier. This is where our ground loop most likely sits.
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4
Plug the male ground loop isolator plugs into the color-coded female plugs on the amplifier. The isolator will have one set of male and one set of female plugs.
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5
Plug the RCA cables from your head unit into the color-coded female plugs on the ground loop isolator. The ground loop isolator is now successfully installed.
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Tips & Warnings
If the audio system still has interference, try connecting your amplifier's ground wire to a different ground connection.
Try a shielded RCA cable if the isolator doesn't remove the problem.
Be sure to disconnect the battery before starting. Although you are working on a line-level signal wire, it is still a good idea to eliminate the possibility of electrical shock.
References
Resources
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