LED lights and radio question?

[gwstang]

I installed a pair of 4' led light fixtures a week ago. I plug in the radio I keep in the barn and it really messes up the signal. Makes the radio very scratchy sounding. Turn off lights and radio works fine. Is there something I can use to keep the radio working while the lights are on? I did not know that the leds would cause such a problem. Thanks. :confused2:

 

[ultrarunner]

Not all LED lamps are created equal.

Mom had a small lamp near the TV and she noticed her favorite station would not come in at night... it was the LED lamp causing problems... switched out the bulb for a CREE and no more problem

 

[airbiscuit]

External antenna?

 

[camshawn]

Better bulb. There is a reason some led bulbs are so cheap
Cam

 

[RNeumann]

LED bulbs are DC and your house is AC. Each bulb (typically) transforms the power and actually cycles the DC to provide the proper brightness. If the little transformer isn't shielded properly (and it may not given the small size they have to work in) it will give off enough RF to cause the interference.

Looks like all I did was restate the posts above this one..... Haha

 

[k0ua]

Throw them away, and buy Cree. See my very long thread:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/318587-rfi-cree-led-bulbs.html?highlight=LED

 

[k0ua]

Obviously there are measures you could try if you are electronic savvy. Like some .01 600 volt rated disc ceramics across the AC line right at the input. Or some RF chokes in series with the lines, although at broadcast band frequency's of 530 khz to 1710Khz you are talking about some fair sized ones. If none of this makes any sense... then this is not a solution for you

 

[olPete]

Obviously there are measures you could try if you are electronic savvy. Like some .01 600 volt rated disc ceramics across the AC line right at the input. Or some RF chokes in series with the lines, although at broadcast band frequency's of 530 khz to 1710Khz you are talking about some fair sized ones. If none of this makes any sense... then this is not a solution for you

You beat me to it!! would snap on ferrites help... rolling the AC lead into a loop and putting a couple of them on.. or no point at that freq?

 

[Rustyiron]

I guess the same go's for fluorescent lights, I have the same situation in my shop.

 

[olPete]

I guess the same go's for fluorescent lights, I have the same situation in my shop.

Yes, and you can get better quieter starters for them too, which help a lot.

 

[k0ua]

Wrapping the power cord in a good sized toroidal ferrite might be productive. I would want to start with one you could get at least a half dozen wraps thru. As for the snap on ferrites, If you had enough of them it might work.

 

[the old grind]

Static from these is not limited to the AM band ...

 

[k0ua]

Static from these is not limited to the AM band ...

True, from what I have heard, some of them have emissions on up into VHF frequencies.

 

[dragoneggs]

I guess the same go's for fluorescent lights, I have the same situation in my shop.

My interference problem went away after swapping out my fluorescents with Costco 4ft LEDs in my shop. No more buzzing and slow start up anymore either.

 

[olPete]

True, from what I have heard, some of them have emissions on up into VHF frequencies.

It is amazing how noisy everything has become, with the swing to digital TV and FM broadcasting. Still carries the sticker of compliance of course.. but noisy as heck. Cordless phones were a major headache once but now they are higher in frequency it helps them beat RFI. I can recall the days of our Monday night net on 75M most of the locals knew when we were on the air. Bars across the TV and a racket on the phone..

 

[gwstang]

It's an FM station that I usually listen too. Would running another power line to the shop that is separate from the other power line help with this situation? Or, does the led cause the problem through the air to the antenna or something? I am very happy with the new lights but sort of bummed out about the radio situation. Would a better radio work around this? If i moved the radio outside, will it stop this? Just wondering and guessing. :confused3:

 

[k0ua]

It's an FM station that I usually listen too. Would running another power line to the shop that is separate from the other power line help with this situation? Or, does the led cause the problem through the air to the antenna or something? I am very happy with the new lights but sort of bummed out about the radio situation. Would a better radio work around this? If i moved the radio outside, will it stop this? Just wondering and guessing. :confused3:

An outside antenna for the FM radio would likely help. The more seperation between the lights and the antenna the better. The radiation if likely from the lights into the power line and radiation along the power line and thru the air from the power line both.
However, the FM frequencies would lend itself much easier to using some snap on ferrites on the line to help prevent this radiation.

Describe your lights and what feeds them.

Amazon.com: snap on ferrite beads

 

[Rustyiron]

James these go on the power to the radio or lights? With your link :thumbsup: it looks like a simple and pretty cheap fix. One of the responses here was to throw out the lamp and get another, my luck I'd have a pile of "anothers" before I fixed the problem.:laughing:

 

[lostcreekranch]

The 8' fluorescent lights, in my shop, are about 16' above the floor and hung on chains from ceiling so, replacing the 8' T12 tubes is a major PIA. I bought one of these online from Home Depot for a trial.

EnviroLite 8 ft. 4-Light White Industrial LED White Strip Light with T8 LED 5K Tubes-ST74T185 - The Home Depot

It works great and very bright. No interference to either AM or FM on shop radio either. I'm going to order 8 more for complete replacement of my overhead lights. If I do have to replace one of the LED tubes, in the future, it will still be easier than replacing the 8' tubes. With the fixtures being hung on chains you have to hold fixture with one hand and stab tube with the other, on a 14' step ladder.

I also bought one each of the 4' LED lights from Sam's Club and Costco for trial to install above specific work areas in my shop. Neither cause any radio interference. I prefer the light from Sam's as the LED tubes have frosted covers which, I believe, disperses the light better.

 

[k0ua]

James these go on the power to the radio or lights? With your link :thumbsup: it looks like a simple and pretty cheap fix. One of the responses here was to throw out the lamp and get another, my luck I'd have a pile of "anothers" before I fixed the problem.:laughing:

They go on the power leads to the lights as close as possible.