Silence of the hum

[Tamid]

It seem to me that some while ago, perhaps a few years there was a discussion regarding the imparted hum from the inverter to a car stereo installed in a boler trailer. I have just installed one and when on AC (shore) power the hum is louder than the music. I've been told that one possible solution is to put an inline sound filter on the power line but the car audio specialists aren't sure if it will really work. Aside from upgrading the inverter are there other solutions?

[Byron Kinnaman]

First question, are you talking converter, or inverter?

I'm going to assume you meant converter, the thing that allows you to run your DC stuff from AC power.

Second question, is there some other AC item on, such as a light? Could be coming from there. Attempt to turn all AC items off first.


There is really no simple answer. What would need to be done is determined on the source and the path of the interference. If it's rf, (radio wave type of energy) then it needs to be stopped at the source.

After you've made sure it's not coming in from some other AC powered device you might try the this test.

Disconnect the stereo from the trailer 12 volt system and connect it to another 12 Volt battery. If the hum goes away then the interference is coming in the power lines. If that's the case then a ferrite bead might stop or reduce it. Notice I said might. Interferences like this sometimes are really difficult to stop, depending on how much interference protection is inside the equpment.

I've spent days and days trying to track down the source and entry of interference. It's not an easy task.

Good luck.

[Tamid]

First question, are you talking converter, or inverter?

Yes, converter. There is always a hum even when all other powered devices are turned off. If I turn on a light that is on the same power line as the stereo it is impossible to listen to the radio.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Yes, converter. There is always a hum even when all other powered devices are turned off. If I turn on a light that is on the same power line as the stereo it is impossible to listen to the radio.

That pretty well tells me that the noise is DC power line noise generated by the converter. Looks like there's a couple options. One is to replace the converter with one that has a fully regulated output.

The other put a switch, if there isn't one, at AC input to the converter. That way when you want to listen to the stereo you can turn off the converter and run off the battery. It would still leave AC power to the your outlets, etc.

[CharlynnT]

Disconnect the stereo from the trailer....

Ah, that would do it! Much easier to hear the eagles above and the waves and the wind in the trees and the Stellars Jays and the squirrels and the crackling of the fire.

Oh! But if you also want music or news, then that's another story.

[Tamid]

Ah, that would do it! Much easier to hear the eagles above and the waves and the wind in the trees and the Stellars Jays and the squirrels and the crackling of the fire.

Oh! But if you also want music or news, then that's another story.

Indeed! Or on those days when the frigin jays and squirrels have far too much to say and there is no eagle to shut them up, or the crashing of the waves is accompanied by typhonic (new word) winds and pounding rains and the crackling fire went out long ago to the exuberant downfall. I'm stuck in my egg but still far better than downtown urbanite. Yet I long for a movie, a delivered pizza and a nice glass of wine!

[Greg A]

Third option: Get rid of the converter. Don't have one and we get along fine.

[Gina D.]

Get rid of the converter.

amen. I have yet to find a good use for one. The breaker on my distribution panel for the convertor is set to "off".

As said before...

Battery Charger charges battery
"things" run off battery while charging

simple, if you are not pulling a ton of current and depleting the battery faster than it can charge.

[CharlynnT]

Indeed! Or on those days when the frigin jays and squirrels have far too much to say and there is no eagle to shut them up, or the crashing of the waves is accompanied by typhonic (new word) winds and pounding rains and the crackling fire went out long ago to the exuberant downfall. I'm stuck in my egg but still far better than downtown urbanite. Yet I long for a movie, a delivered pizza and a nice glass of wine!

We don't seem to have frigin jays here, but we sure do have frigin crows and ravens, NOISY buggahs!

Typhonic is an excellent word, and I will try to use it more often in conversation. Soon enough, if we all contribute to this, it will appear in a dictionary.

A movie: bring a laptop computer, a DVD, an extension cord, and one of those thingies that plugs into the cig lighter. On longer camping trips, when we have failed to bring these items, son will sometimes say. "I wish we had some Passive Entertainment."

Delivered pizza: that's a tough one. It happened to me only once that the campground was close enough to downtown for it to happen. Know your "address" and use your cell phone. Tip heavily.

Nice glass of wine: is there any reason that quality libations cannot be packaged in tetra-packs? Or a nice unbreakable plastic bottle with a screw-on cap? I have wondered about this myself.

Here's an idea, and I am serious:

"How should we cook tonight, Dear, do you want me to fire up the BBQ, start a cooking fire, or should we just make something inside?"

"Don't worry about it, Darling, this campground has Room Service. I've ordered us the Coquille St Jacques with a Green Salad and Chicken and Chips for the kid."

[Gerry]

Indeed! Or on those days when the frigin jays and squirrels have far too much to say and there is no eagle to shut them up, or the crashing of the waves is accompanied by typhonic (new word) winds and pounding rains and the crackling fire went out long ago to the exuberant downfall. I'm stuck in my egg but still far better than downtown urbanite. Yet I long for a movie, a delivered pizza and a nice glass of wine!

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Buy a BOOK and Read

Gerry the canoebuilder

[Brian B-P]

...Nice glass of wine: is there any reason that quality libations cannot be packaged in tetra-packs?

French Rabbit wines are reportedly good, and are in Tetra Paks. I have not tried them, but some local stores are featuring them.

I can't help with the pizza.

[Donna D.]

I can't help with the pizza.

Oh pizza and molded lightweight fiberglass RVs make wonderful true stories...ya gotta read this topic: Warning: Beware of large pizza pies

ooooh Charles...we're gonna talk about you!

[Sharon Herman]

Warning: Beware of large pizza pies