My motorcycle has a Garmin zumo GPS and a Escort Redline radar detector. I've been looking at building a simple headphone amplifier which accepts both the inputs. I know I can buy something to do the job, but I want an educational project. This is an early design consideration that is stumping me.
Each device, including the amp will be powered from the motorcycle's 12v battery. Each device's audio ground reference is seems to be different.
If I want the ability to plug in which ever consumer electronic devices I want, with undersized power leads and various amp designs, how can I break the ground between devices and the amplifier?
Commercial intercom systems such as the Autocom and Starcom unit utilize 1:1 isolation transformers which appear to be for telephone use. The ground for each input is tied together. (i.e. shield of all headphone amps is 0ohm resistance between each other).
I've considered trying to source better isolation transformers, but am running into size and cost issues. I see many 1:1 transformers which don't mention audio applications. Any suggestions? I'm looking for smallest possible package.
Each device, including the amp will be powered from the motorcycle's 12v battery. Each device's audio ground reference is seems to be different.
If I want the ability to plug in which ever consumer electronic devices I want, with undersized power leads and various amp designs, how can I break the ground between devices and the amplifier?
Commercial intercom systems such as the Autocom and Starcom unit utilize 1:1 isolation transformers which appear to be for telephone use. The ground for each input is tied together. (i.e. shield of all headphone amps is 0ohm resistance between each other).
I've considered trying to source better isolation transformers, but am running into size and cost issues. I see many 1:1 transformers which don't mention audio applications. Any suggestions? I'm looking for smallest possible package.
Are you sure there is a problem in reality ?
I know nothing about bikes and have never used a GPS but I would have though that if it were 12 volt powered then the "0" or zero power lead would be ground as far as any audio outputs were concerned. Same for the radar detector
Thats as assumption on my part... have you done a quick measurement to see.
Some transformers here of various sorts but I can't really see that one is needed.
Audio | CPC | Results
I know nothing about bikes and have never used a GPS but I would have though that if it were 12 volt powered then the "0" or zero power lead would be ground as far as any audio outputs were concerned. Same for the radar detector
Thats as assumption on my part... have you done a quick measurement to see.
Some transformers here of various sorts but I can't really see that one is needed.
Audio | CPC | Results
Yes, is the audio output "ground" from these two devices connected to the power negative lead.
The "spikes" bit could be interesting...
I would guess anything manufactured for an auto environment should be designed to take into account noisy rails. Anything you build (headphone amp) should probably include a decent line filter although the low currents involved probably allow a simple R/C network to be all that's needed.
If one is then that one shouldn't be a problem.
The other one... lets cover all bases on the one that doesn't. I would measure on DC volts from the power lead ground to both outputs with it powered up and check there is no DC volts present. If there isn't then it's well it's worth just coupling it up "as a normal" output feeding into a headphone amp and seeing if there is a problem. It can't do any harm. I'm assuming the outputs are marked or identifiable as signal and "ground" If not then try either way around.
Not quite sure how these will all be used in practice but if the idea is to have these two units to overide the headphone amp (music) then you could feed them all into an opamp mixer stage. Then any audio from any device will come through. Easy to set the levels for each too.
The other one... lets cover all bases on the one that doesn't. I would measure on DC volts from the power lead ground to both outputs with it powered up and check there is no DC volts present. If there isn't then it's well it's worth just coupling it up "as a normal" output feeding into a headphone amp and seeing if there is a problem. It can't do any harm. I'm assuming the outputs are marked or identifiable as signal and "ground" If not then try either way around.
Not quite sure how these will all be used in practice but if the idea is to have these two units to overide the headphone amp (music) then you could feed them all into an opamp mixer stage. Then any audio from any device will come through. Easy to set the levels for each too.
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