XMD-3 Switching Modes

[unclejessie]

Has anyone had problems with their XMD-3 switching modes? I just finished adding 2 amps and sub-woofer and now the XMD is changing modes mid-way through a song when the volume is up high. The song has to be one with heavy bass. If there is no strong bass, the swithcing modes won't occur. I have tried adding a cap for the sub amp to help source current for the sub amp and no change. Running with either amp alone and there is no problem. Running with both and the problem occurs.

Clarion tech support believes the problem to be RF interference with the remote control cable. They think the RF is distorting the digital signal coming from the remote, making the head unit swith modes to "scan", "mute", "aux", etc. One theory is that the amps are putting out too much RF. The amps are a Kicker ZR460 and an Elclipse 3242, both are 4 channel amps. I have added chokes and RF dampers and nothing seems to work.

I can't believe I am the only one having this problem. I don't think I am doing anything unusual. I have 2 runs of 4 gage wire from the amps to the battery. The + goes through a fuse block to 2-8 gage wires which lead to the amps. Both amps are under the observer seat, one on the port side and the other on the wall for the walk through.

Tomorrow I will try pulling the amps out and getting them away from the remote cable to see if that cures the problem. If that helps, I will look into newer amps...but do some amps have better RF than others?

Any ideas?

Does this sound like a defective remote or head unit? I will look into getting Clarion to send me a remote cable to see if the cable is bad.

BTW, the Clarion tech support people have been very helpful and friendly so far... major props to Chuck and Don.

Thanks
UJ

[Mikeski]

RE: XMD-3 Switching Modes

sounds like a good excuse to go for the xmd4 rather then looking for a needle in the haystack.

[Grant_West]

Harolds system does this we have chased down this problem and were told the same thing as you. They said the Digital amps are throwing out a signal that switching the amp's. We wer told to ground the Remote cable by wrapping a insulated wire around the cable. I personally have never had this problem and I have my remote control cable running right across the top of the Bass amps' all 5000 watts of bass so if anyones would have a RF problem I would think it would be me but no not a lick of problems.

I have heard about this problem on 2 other systems as well. All with rear remote's, Sorry But we havent tested this inslating cable on the water yett we wraped the remote cable like they said but havent tryed it out as of yet, 2 mins of playing loud music brings the cop's here in a second

[unclejessie]

thanks for the replies.

I have a new remote cable from Clarion and routed it myself only to have the same problem.... sort of

Also, the metal part at the connecter is gorunded, but what I don't know for sure is if the cable itself has shielding. I don't understander how wrapping a wire around the remote cable will "ground" it. Did the Clarion guys tell you to do that?

I found if I wrap the excess cable (all 18 ft. of it) in a loop, I get "drop outs" right away. If I leave the cable unwrapped, and untangled, I can play pretty loud w/o "drop outs". I don't know if I am testing at a reasonable listening level because I am in my gargage. So, what I did is find a cable path that doesn't overlap itself and I got rid of the "drop outs"except for only one song that has some heavy bass.

The bad thing is that Clarion offers 2 cables lengths, 2 ft. and 24ft...go figure.

I have told Clarion I will test this configuration when I get my tower speakers installed and take it out to set the correct levels on the amp etc. I am only 50% confident I am out of the woods. I might try making my own cable and shielding it properly.

Mikeski, what is the xmd4?

[unclejessie]

Here is an update on my flakey remote cable.

Last weekend I replaced the remote cable with a truely shielded cable and I had no problems with the deck unit switching modes when the volume was cranked up. I spoke with Clarion, and the they said did not even know the cable was not shielded. Yes, it does have a "drain" wire, but that isn't a true shielded cable. Hopefully this will fix the problem for good! The next test will be on a really warm day, when the stereo is cranked. As the amps get warmer they seem to put out more RF noise. I won't know for sure if I am out of the woods until June or July when it is hot again.

I think anyone with older amps and the XMD3 head unit and remote are suspectable. I have heard the oder amps put out more RF noise then the new ones. That is my only guess as to why some people have this problem and others don't.

UJ

[Mikeski]

I would actually expect a newer amp with a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) power supply might create more RF?

[MinnesotaNautique]

Uncle Jessie,

I too have the same problem with the remote for my xmd3. I had a stereo shop add a 4 channel phoenix gold amp and some tower speakers...I was unable to use my remote all summer, as the head unit would reset at about half-volume!

There was a thread a while back where about 8 other people complained about the same issue! I have been uable to fix the problem, then again I'm not very tech savy.

Would you keep me updated, and let me know if the shielded cable fixed the issue...I would greatly appreciate it.

[hsmunoz]

Hey Uncle JEssie,

I definitely have the same problem, manifested after I added a Hyfonics 500W sub amp and a 12in SUB. I have move the wires away from the sub amp, and sub speaker wires. Will see if that takes care of it.

where did you get a shielded 6 pin din cable? I am using the stock Clarion?

[unclejessie]

Check your PM.

I made my own cable. I cut off the ends of what they gave me and spliced in a new "shielded" cable. Clarion's cable are not shielded.

UJ