Retrosound Hermosa radio question

cn63bug · Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 8:52 pm Post subject: Retrosound Hermosa radio question

So I just installed the Hermosa in my 66 along with Retrosounds DVC speaker and it sounds really great. Everything is hooked up correctly. Now when the engine is off, it sounds awesome. However, when the engine is running, the sound cuts in and out. It doesn't matter if it's on radio, AUX or BT. It's the same. When I shut the car off and turn it back on without starting the car, everything works great. I'm leaning towards a weak ground perhaps, but wanted to see if anyone has some other suggestions.
Thanks

caleb0101 · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:17 am Post subject:

Is your charging system working correctly?
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cn63bug · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 7:04 am Post subject:

grandpa pete · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:52 pm Post subject:

Wayne S. Johnson · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 2:58 pm Post subject:

You can isolate the 12V power input using a small 12V battery. This will determine if the problem is input power related or ignition/generator noise related.
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cn63bug · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:42 pm Post subject:

I'm starting to think it's ignition related. The car has an alternator on it. I did install a pertronix igniter and flame thrower coil on it before I installed the radio. I re-routed the power directly to the battery and it improved but the sound still cuts in and out just not as bad.

drmyers · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 2:10 am Post subject:

I have a Retrosound in my 64 with a generator and don't have this issue. Just tossing it out there.
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cn63bug · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:11 am Post subject:

Yeah, it isn't an alternator or generator issue. I've had those before and this isn't the same. I have a feeling that the power leads for the radio are picking up "interference" from the main harness while the car is running due to the ignition system. Going to try running the leads back to the battery on the other side of the car which will be a little tricky for me as I don't want to drill any other holes to run wire through Smile

I'll post back up what I find later.
Thanks

Wayne S. Johnson · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:27 pm Post subject:

Noise entering your radio can be reduced using a PI FILTER.
A PI FILTER is a low pass filter consisting of two capacitors connected in parallel with a series inductor between the capacitors.

Free online low pass filter calculator, with Bode plot.
http://sim.okawa-denshi.jp/en/RLClowkeisan.htm

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bluebus86 · Banned Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075

Aynthm · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 5:31 pm Post subject:

Check the condenser wire under the distributor, could be frayed and grounding out on the case.

cn63bug · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 6:10 pm Post subject:

No condenser installed anymore. Has electronic ignition. I replaced the plug wires today as I was wanting to put new ones on and hadn't did it yet. Once installed, the stereo hardly cut in and out at all. Didn't do it all for nearly 20 minutes and then started to sporadically do it. Going to look into the low pass filter suggested by Wayne next.

cn63bug · Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:13 pm Post subject:

So I wanted to post an update to my issue with audio cutting out.
I tried several different routes to get rid of the problem. I replaced plug wires (my old ones were looking a little worse for wear anyway) and it seemed to help some. Routed the power wires to the battery directly. Didn't work. Re-routed the ground to the battery and didn't really help much either. Ended up routing the power wires on the other side of the car away from the harness and it seems to have solved the issue. Ran it all day today without issue. One other thing that I did since I wasn't using the hazard switch (there wasn't one when I bought the car), was put a push pull switch in it's location and use a factory knob on it to create a switched power so it's not on my ignition. Don't have to have the key on to use it and potentially miss up my ignition.
Thanks for everyones input.


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