Alpine radio cut out
08-02-20, 08:55 PM
#1
Admitted 'rexaholic'
Thread Starter
Alpine radio cut out
My Alpine single din radio occasionally cuts out at high volumes and using phone Bluetooth. I’m using the stock 12v to power the radio. Made sure all speakers correct and phase wiring.
I’m thinking I need to run new power wires, but where’s a good place to tap, fuse box?
I appreciate any advise.
I’m thinking I need to run new power wires, but where’s a good place to tap, fuse box?
I appreciate any advise.
08-03-20, 07:50 AM
#2
Rotary Enthusiast
My aftermarket Kenwood head unit also occasionally cuts out at high volumes. I think that my problem had to do with a poor case ground. I need to run a ground wire from the unit's case to a good ground point under the dash.
08-03-20, 01:43 PM
#3
Admitted 'rexaholic'
Thread Starter
08-03-20, 01:53 PM
#4
Rotary Enthusiast
When I installed this unit many years ago, the Kenwood instructions said to ground the case but at the time I neither had a ground wire nor ground point under the dash. I thought that the negative ground of power wire would be sufficient but maybe it's not. So, I need to go back and ground the case. Not a high priority item on my list. Receiver seems works fine unless I really crank-up the volume.
08-03-20, 04:06 PM
#5
Admitted 'rexaholic'
Thread Starter
When I installed this unit many years ago, the Kenwood instructions said to ground the case but at the time I neither had a ground wire nor ground point under the dash. I thought that the negative ground of power wire would be sufficient but maybe it's not. So, I need to go back and ground the case. Not a high priority item on my list. Receiver seems works fine unless I really crank-up the volume.
I’ll try the ground and report back.
08-03-20, 04:54 PM
#6
Rotary Enthusiast
My Kenwood CD receiver (Model # KDC-MP235) is likely obsolete by today's standards. It doesn't have Bluetooth technology. It sounds good and best of all I know how to operate it. (Nowadays, you need a PhD to operate these units.) Every time it hits peak bass, the fluorescent display momentarily dims. Like yours, if I crank-up the volume high than it will momentarily cutout during peak bass periods. I don't know what else would be causing that other than the ground. It has maximum rated power output of 50W x 4 channels. The unit has a maximum current rating of 10A, which is well within the car's 20A audio circuit.
08-03-20, 05:10 PM
#7
Admitted 'rexaholic'
Thread Starter
My Kenwood CD receiver (Model # KDC-MP235) is likely obsolete by today's standards. It doesn't have Bluetooth technology. It sounds good and best of all I know how to operate it. (Nowadays, you need a PhD to operate these units.) Every time it hits peak bass, the fluorescent display momentarily dims. Like yours, if I crank-up the volume high than it will momentarily cutout during peak bass periods. I don't know what else would be causing that other than the ground. It has maximum rated power output of 50W x 4 channels. The unit has a maximum current rating of 10A, which is well within the car's 20A audio circuit.
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08-12-20, 03:59 PM
#8
Mechanical Engineering
For grounding, there should be a M4 screw on the passenger side center console, right under the access cover. I used that as my hard point for grounding, no issues so far.
08-12-20, 05:38 PM
#9
Rotary Enthusiast
That's good info! Roughly, how long of a ground strap would one need to get from back of radio to this ground point?
08-13-20, 08:28 AM
#10
Mechanical Engineering
The wire adapter kit for my radio had a ground wire about 13" long and was able to reach the ground point and still have enough length to pull the radio out a few inches.
08-14-20, 08:36 PM
#12
Admitted 'rexaholic'
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=mwpayne;12427455]Yes sounds like mine. I like this unit because the display can be set to amber to match dash lights.[/QUOTE
BTW is anyone aware of a double din unit that can be set to amber lighting?
Might just upgrade if I can find one.
BTW is anyone aware of a double din unit that can be set to amber lighting?
Might just upgrade if I can find one.
08-22-20, 02:37 PM
#14
Admitted 'rexaholic'
Thread Starter
It’s still preliminary but first drive with new ground and tunes cranked, no cut out. Further testing to come but looks like this could be the solution.
08-22-20, 02:42 PM
#15
Rotary Enthusiast
Well, that's good news! I bought a couple different lengths of braided ground straps for my radio chassis. I'm planning on installing one sometime next week.
08-22-20, 06:40 PM
#16
Rotary Enthusiast
There may be a floating ground to case in the radio that's causing this problem. That's probably why the manufacturer recommended grounding the radio's case.
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