What is a condenser?

v1p3r · 30th May 2007, 09:18

What is a condenser, wrt ICE? Binz's car has this annoying alternator whine, and we went down to this store to see if they could give us a quick-fix, but the guy said "Saab, condenser lagaana padega." I have no clue what that is. I hope you guys do.

Vid6639 · 30th May 2007, 09:24

with respect to ICE condenser is nothing but a capacitor.

hydrashok · 30th May 2007, 09:45

Like vid said, he must have meant a capacitor.

But IMHO spending money on a Cap is a waste. Most power/noise problems can be traced to the wiring:

1) Bad quality power wiring (BOSS, usually)

2) Power wires run with RCA interconnects, causing noise to creep-in. This usually happens with RCAs with bad shielding. But even with the best quality RCAs and best quality power wires, and best quality speaker wires, I'd personally run the RCAs & speaker wires and the Power wires along different sides of the car. (RCAs and speaker wires can be run together).

3) Some mechanical problem with the alternator.

4) Some problem with the battery (from personal experience, EXIDE seems to cause this problem at times).

Most likely the problem will be fixed with the re-routing of power wires away from RCA & spkr wires. Else, instead for adding a Cap, I'd upgrade to better power & RCA wires. Cost will work to about the same.

Caps are usually needed to tide over sudden & huge power requirements made by amps powering subs, for eg. when an especially wicked bass note needs to be played. I don't think they will help with removing alternator whine.

Last resort, (only) if all else fails, you'll need to get a line-noise filter. Again a bit expensive, if you want the job done well.

Absolute last line of defense: A line-noise "masker" (and all other noise "masker") in the guise of a GF in the front seat. Yak, yak, yak. No more line noise

Vid6639 · 30th May 2007, 10:00

As hydra said, get the battery checked is it old or new. If the battery is old then that could be the reason of alternator whine.

The battery may not be charging properly.

The most common problem in loose ground connection. The grounding may not be proper causing the alternator whine.

low_bass_makker · 30th May 2007, 10:11

Condenser is a also said as capacitor.....it is correct and here we are not talking of 1 farad which is used to keep the supply voltage of the car supply up....but the one we are discussing is used in conjunction of ground here to filterout the noise...

s0uljah · 30th May 2007, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1p3r

Binz's car has this annoying alternator whine

Pioneer HU ??

Just try grounding the RCA's / slots to the back of the HU with a copper wire.

Usually fixes the problem and its the last thing the shop guys will tell you to do (well until they hit ground in your pockets.)

binz · 30th May 2007, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by s0uljah

Pioneer HU ??

Just try grounding the RCA's / slots to the back of the HU with a copper wire.

Usually fixes the problem and its the last thing the shop guys will tell you to do (well until they hit ground in your pockets.)

Yep,Pio HU it is.Exactly what has to be grounded??

s0uljah · 30th May 2007, 10:47

I have a pic of whats to be done, imageshack aint working though

edit : get on MSN

low_bass_makker · 30th May 2007, 11:03

here what souljah posted few days ago...

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/413720-post5726.html

here is the pic who are in a hurry to see it...

gunbir · 30th May 2007, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

Yes, most Pioneer HUs (even the expensive ones costing 50k and above) have this problem. Do ground your RCA grounds to your chassis and the noise will be reduced / eliminated.

clipto333 · 30th May 2007, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunbir

Yes, most Pioneer HUs (even the expensive ones costing 50k and above) have this problem. Do ground your RCA grounds to your chassis and the noise will be reduced / eliminated.

hi,

i had the same problem wit my pio HU. i also did the same thing . the noise was totally eliminated. i inserted a 1 rupee coin in between the stereo chassis and the rca input.lol. after some time i got my hu repaired.

cheers

low_bass_makker · 30th May 2007, 15:33

I have heard it is with most of the pioneer HU....but I have used nearly 5-6 HU personally and I have faced this problem in a single one.....

clipto333 · 30th May 2007, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

I have heard it is with most of the pioneer HU....but I have used nearly 5-6 HU personally and I have faced this problem in a single one.....

HI,

this usually happens when the rca leads connected to the hu come in contact with the ground of the vehicle when the HU is on. when this happens, a tiny fuse on the main board gives way. well this thing happened with me. dont know about others.

cheers
clip

low_bass_makker · 30th May 2007, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by clipto333

this usually happens when the rca leads connected to the hu come in contact with the ground of the vehicle when the HU is on. when this happens, a tiny fuse on the main board gives way. well this thing happened with me. dont know about others

Not the fuse I would assume the track on the PCB (printed circuit board) of the HU

gunbir · 30th May 2007, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by clipto333

HI,

this usually happens when the rca leads connected to the hu come in contact with the ground of the vehicle when the HU is on. when this happens, a tiny fuse on the main board gives way. well this thing happened with me. dont know about others.

cheers
clip

I thought so too till recently, and of course all precautions were taken, but when we installed a high end Pioneer unit straight out of the box, it had the same problem.

30th May 2007, 09:18	#1
v1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR / DXB / LON Posts: 5,359 Thanked: 7,462 Times View My Garage	What is a condenser? What is a condenser, wrt ICE? Binz's car has this annoying alternator whine, and we went down to this store to see if they could give us a quick-fix, but the guy said "Saab, condenser lagaana padega." I have no clue what that is. I hope you guys do.
	() Thanks

30th May 2007, 09:24	#2
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,709 Thanked: 44,135 Times View My Garage	with respect to ICE condenser is nothing but a capacitor.
	() Thanks

30th May 2007, 09:45	#3
hydrashok Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In my Office Posts: 2,527 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	Like vid said, he must have meant a capacitor. But IMHO spending money on a Cap is a waste. Most power/noise problems can be traced to the wiring: 1) Bad quality power wiring (BOSS, usually) 2) Power wires run with RCA interconnects, causing noise to creep-in. This usually happens with RCAs with bad shielding. But even with the best quality RCAs and best quality power wires, and best quality speaker wires, I'd personally run the RCAs & speaker wires and the Power wires along different sides of the car. (RCAs and speaker wires can be run together). 3) Some mechanical problem with the alternator. 4) Some problem with the battery (from personal experience, EXIDE seems to cause this problem at times). Most likely the problem will be fixed with the re-routing of power wires away from RCA & spkr wires. Else, instead for adding a Cap, I'd upgrade to better power & RCA wires. Cost will work to about the same. Caps are usually needed to tide over sudden & huge power requirements made by amps powering subs, for eg. when an especially wicked bass note needs to be played. I don't think they will help with removing alternator whine. Last resort, (only) if all else fails, you'll need to get a line-noise filter. Again a bit expensive, if you want the job done well. Absolute last line of defense: A line-noise "masker" (and all other noise "masker") in the guise of a GF in the front seat. Yak, yak, yak. No more line noise Last edited by hydrashok : 30th May 2007 at 09:51.
	() Thanks

30th May 2007, 10:00	#4
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,709 Thanked: 44,135 Times View My Garage	As hydra said, get the battery checked is it old or new. If the battery is old then that could be the reason of alternator whine. The battery may not be charging properly. The most common problem in loose ground connection. The grounding may not be proper causing the alternator whine.
	() Thanks

30th May 2007, 10:11	#5
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,813 Thanked: 306 Times View My Garage	Condenser is a also said as capacitor.....it is correct and here we are not talking of 1 farad which is used to keep the supply voltage of the car supply up....but the one we are discussing is used in conjunction of ground here to filterout the noise...
	() Thanks

30th May 2007, 10:47	#8
s0uljah Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 2,222 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	I have a pic of whats to be done, imageshack aint working though edit : get on MSN Last edited by s0uljah : 30th May 2007 at 10:50.
	() Thanks

30th May 2007, 11:03	#9
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,813 Thanked: 306 Times View My Garage	here what souljah posted few days ago... http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/413720-post5726.html here is the pic who are in a hurry to see it... Last edited by low_bass_makker : 30th May 2007 at 11:09.
	() Thanks

30th May 2007, 15:33	#12
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,813 Thanked: 306 Times View My Garage	I have heard it is with most of the pioneer HU....but I have used nearly 5-6 HU personally and I have faced this problem in a single one.....
	() Thanks