Chilton Guide to Ground Loops and Cheater Plugs
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Chilton Guide to Ground Loops and Cheater Plugs

Rastocny hunts down and explains how annoying and frustrating hum and background noises creep into the very best home theater music and movie reproduction systems. He teaches how to locate and solve a ground into a ground creates a loop issues. Ground loops, he says, usually show up as hum in your audio system but can also show up as ghosting, color smearing, or random noise in the video section. Although Rastocny takes until page 10 to include a graphic - disclosures and caveats come first  when he does, they are clean, simple, elegant and helpful. After that, he includes about one per page  exactly what we want and need to see. In fact, one can easily jump from image to image to get a good overview of what this helpful little manual is all about.

Rastocny explains why using a cheater plug can apparently solve one problem but creates a huge safety issue and is therefore not advised. Energy, we learn, is everywhere at all times. Rastocny explains how this applies to electricity in your home and most importantly in your home theater music and movie reproduction systems. He shows in photographic and drawing images and then explains in text what chassis leakage is, multiple transformer polarity connections, how to make a non-polarized cheater plug (simple trimming), testing and correcting polarity and load balancing. He provides some common guidelines for plugging in electronic equipment. Rastocny discusses the construction of tweaking audiophile quality power cords  and how they might actually make an audible difference. He summarizes each section to review what you learn. Rastocny provides an enormous set of references, well worth the $3 investment.

Every shade tree mechanic needs a manual showing exactly how to dissemble the complicated machinery of an automobile. Our home stereo systems evolved into no less sophistication that our cars. Rastocny provides a handy, low cost, graphic heavy, tweaking audiophiles guide to debugging our electronics.

I write stereo reviews for EnjoyTheMusic.com and post on home Audio Tube Amplifier, Big Ole Horn loudspeakers and tweaking audiophile home theater pages on Facebook. Rastocny is a friend of mine from the local audio club. I know his wonderful and practical stereo system. I trust his sound advice.

Rastocny had 20 years of experience at Bell Labs. In each slim volume, he carefully explains issues relevant to tweaking audiophiles and their complex home and music reproduction systems.

This third volume is an EXCELLENT value for somebody who truly wants to find and solve the annoying hum and buzz of their audio and visual electronics. There is nothing quite like Rastocnys eBooks for tweaking audiophiles. Like Chilton Guides for automobiles, they are VALUABLE references for tweaking audiophiles.
4705031
I used it to find the grease fittings, jack points, pcv valve and to review the chassis electrical diagrams because I'm having a problem with the chime tone.  The manual has been great.  I've been able to find out everything I need.  I would recommend this as a good buy to a friend.
3812105
I used this to set my points dwell and engine RPM.  Easy to use.  Useful for troubleshooting most electrical problems on earlier model cars.
4949845
This tool was terrific for my 2000 Volvo V70 XC that had several codes and running issues, and also the SRS airbag light on. The I906 diagnosed and reset all of the lights, including the SRS light. Very helpful, great investment if you have a car with OBDII diagnostics.
3268328
Product worked well.  I would have liked to see the manufacturer provide help for connecting for the various harnesses.  This is the biggest hurdle and a bit challenging for most users even with an voltmeter.  I hazarded a guess on my harness (2011 Nissan Maxima) using the prongs inserted half way and was able to strike out the right hot lead (black was ground in the harness).
2844718
Purchased this item for my 2002 Ford Excursion 7.3 TurboDiesel.  My Check Engine Light kept coming on (230 K miles) and throwing P0670 and P0683 codes.  Both of these codes are associated with the Glow Plug Control Module.  I initially thought it was due to a failing glow plug relay, but it turns out that the Excursion and California trucks back then did not have a glow plug relay.  Instead, they had this Glow Plug Control Module.

Purchased this module and installed it without much difficulty.  Hardest part was getting the nut removed from the back; had to loosen the intake tube for the turbo in order to be able to get a socket on the nut.  The two wired connectors have a tab on the back side (which you can't see) that needs to be pushed in while you wiggle the connectors loose.

Cleared the codes with my reader, and so far through six power cycles, the Check Engine Light has not come back on.  But be aware that it takes three cycles for the codes to come back after being cleared, just in case you find that this module was not your problem.
4848789
Easy to use, great tool for eliminating stray/induced voltage caused by EMI and/or capacitive coupling.
4370158
[...]
The page has specs that can be sorted with links to amazon for the products. Extremely helpful.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/DROK-600W-12A-DC-Boost-Voltage-Converter-12-60V-to-12-80V-Step-up-Power-Supply-Transformer-Module-Regulator-Controller-Constant-Volt-Amp-Car-Regulated-Laptop-Battery-Charger-LED-Driver-Generator/dp/B00E8D7XYG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">DROK 600W 12A DC Boost Voltage Converter 12-60V to 12-80V Step-up Power Supply Transformer Module Regulator Controller Constant Volt/Amp Car Regulated Laptop Battery Charger LED Driver Generator</a>
1544281
Had this up and cleared my trouble code in 15 minutes. No issues on a windows 7 64 bit laptop. I am using it on a 2006 Infiniti G35x and will probably use it on a 2002 Honda Civic
3402951
I got this adapter to install a new Sony radio head unit in my 1999 mustang base. The factory wiring is incomprehensible, and the wiring harness is the best bet in order to install a new system. After matching the radio wires to the colors on the harness, I plugged it all together and it fitted snugly and securely. The only surprise was that the base radio system does have a small amplifier, so if you are installing a new unit with the harness be sure to connect the wires for that hardware in order to get sound.

A final tip: use heat shrink, crimp connectors, or wire clips for tying the audio wire together. I tried it with wire nuts the first time and half of them fell off during installation of the radio into the dash.
347493
I never knew there was so much computerization you could do to your car...  Car PC Hacks - Tips & Tools for Geeking Your Ride by Damien Stolarz.

Contents:  Car Power Basics; Automotive Audio Entertainment; Automotive Video Entertainment; In-Car Computers; Car PC Interface Options; Wireless Connectivity and in-Car Internet; In-Car Applications; Index

In this Hacks book, you get 75 different ways to "geek your ride".  This can range from simple modifications to the stereo system (#13 - Installing a New Head Unit) to installing a full-fledged PC in your car (#41 - Choose an in-Car PC Hardware Platform).  While many of the hacks don't have step by step instructions on how to make it all come together, there's enough information to point you in the right direction.  In reality, it'd be almost impossible to do detailed instructions, as each car will be different, and your options for mounting and installing hardware can often be limited only by your imagination.  Even if you're not all that handy with tools and such, this book will give you a really good idea of what can be done.  From there, you can figure out who to befriend in order to get the installation taken care of.

I also appreciated the in-depth coverage of how a car's electrical system works.  I'm the type who just turns the key and figures everything starts up.  When you start adding in all sorts of new equipment, the demands on the battery change dramatically.  In addition, PC equipment doesn't view momentary power drops during start-up very kindly.  After reading this material, you'll understand the issues involved as well as how they can all be overcome.

Bottom line, this is a very good book if you're interested in tricking out your car with the latest in custom electronics.  The first time you sit in the back seat and start playing the latest XBox game mounted in the headrest, you'll be hooked...
4721823
Went on Youtube to educate myself on how to use the power probe ECT2000. This help me find a short in my trucks headliner.
4973709
Great tool for helping me diagnose two stroke engine operating temp during tuning!
990934
Great way to monitor 4 parameters of your vehicle all at the same time, read most DTCs(Diagnostic Trouble Codes, such as CEL- Check Engine Light codes) Easy to hook up, set up and use. Back lighting available in different colors, even able to monitor aftermarket sensors in addition to the factory sensors
2760089
It's great to see what your engine is doing.  Easy set up!
771240
Great supplement to the factory manual.  If you want to do heavy service of the engine and so forth get this, the Chilton manual and the Factory manual.
2520114
Very easy to follow instructions because the pictures are on the same page. I did a thorough tune-up on a 2001 Toyota Corolla. This book had all the data I needed make the correct settings and do the work, and it also had a good section on troubleshooting and suggestions on how to correct problems. The book saved me money & time.