Speaker Crackling

[gman021]

So my friend whose a cop just got a permit by his chief to run lights and sirens on his truck. So, I helped him out by pointing him in the right direction on where to get stuff and how to set it up. After we did our makeshift install (to see how things fit and how he like it) the siren would crackle when it turned on and at the end of the siren (after pressing the horn or manual). When we added another speaker, not only was the crackling worse, but the mic wouldn't work because it would make a high pitch screech, like when the amp is too close to the speaker. because this wasn't our permanent install, I realize there's most likely some faulty wiring on our part. I did double check though, and all wires are in proper places and tied together (wire nuts)


But why does the siren crackle when its turned on and when you press the horn or manual?? A list of possible reasons would be nice so we can troubleshoot. Siren is a SLSA6 with to SA314 speakers.

 

[Quentin]

if you have another siren test the speaker on it. and if it does it to different speakers it sounds like something is wrong with the siren.

 

[NPS Ranger]

Lemme get this straight, a cop wants to run L&S on his POV? He can't do enough high profile law enforcement on duty, he wants to do traffic stops off duty also?


No disrespect intended, am I missing something?

 

[gman021]

Here in Massachusetts, we have a thing called detail. That means any construction or event that needs or could use a cop, they use one. And they make bank. His department doesn't have vehicles to spare while doing this, so he gets to use his own. The siren would mainly be used for undercover work. Lights are the most important for his sake.

 

[NPS Ranger]

Ahh OK gotcha.

 

[gman021]

We've tested with a CPI siren speaker as well as a soundoff speaker. I also tried an old 295 and it crackled. I don't think my fed sig siren crackled though.


Can anyone give me a possible list of reasons?

 

[calebsheltonmed23]

Lemme get this straight, a cop wants to run L&S on his POV? He can't do enough high profile law enforcement on duty, he wants to do traffic stops off duty also?

No disrespect intended, am I missing something?

There is an officer about 30 miles away from my place, and he uses his POV when off duty to pull people over and give them citations. Radar, camera, lights, siren, etc., all out of his own pocket. More power to him, but I would'nt do it!

 

[gman021]

Is it possible the gauge of the speaker wire im using is too small? I would say its 16 or 18 ga.

 

[Quentin]

Have you tried pulling it and bench testing it right at the battery?


Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

 

[gman021]

Not this particular unit but I did do that with my older 295 and it crackled. I just realized that the speaker wire should be fine, because the wire that comes with the speakers is 16 ga. Could a diode fix it?


We have no idea why its doing this, and its kinda annoying

 

[Jarred J.]

first off dont use WIRE NUTS

 

[gman021]

We worked on it a little today and it crackles when it turns on and after a tap of the airhorn. We're starting to think the speaker wire is picking up a signal from the power wire. Could wire nuts be a problem?

 

[John]

Could wire nuts be a problem?

If they aren't now they will be soon. Wire nuts do not belong in your car. If you used wire nuts on the rest of the connections you will be very fortunate if your buddy's car doesn't burn up.


On a positive note, flames provide a fantastic visual warning. I have never seen anyone rear end a burning vehicle on the highway.

 

[gman021]

On a positive note, flames provide a fantastic visual warning. I have never seen anyone rear end a burning vehicle on the highway.

haha ya I guess your right. We'll go with some connectors instead

 

[gman021]

I figured it out. Thanks for the help.

 

[shues]

I figured it out. Thanks for the help.

What did the problem turn out to be?

 

[gman021]

It turns out that whenever it's on RAD, it crackles when it turns on or when he uses the airhorn. I thought I had heard it on man1 or man2, but now I don't. That could have been fixed due to our permanent install, therefore getting rid of wire nuts and bad connections. I'm still curious though why it crackles when on RAD.


Well, now we now just to never have the knob turned to RAD.

 

[John]

It turns out that whenever it's on RAD, it crackles when it turns on or when he uses the airhorn. I thought I had heard it on man1 or man2, but now I don't. That could have been fixed due to our permanent install, therefore getting rid of wire nuts and bad connections. I'm still curious though why it crackles when on RAD.

Well, now we now just to never have the knob turned to RAD.

Do you have a radio tied to the siren for rebroadcast? If not the unused leads on the siren may be touching something grounded. In the RAD position the amplifier is on and attempting to amplify any signal that may be coming in on those wires.