LED lights and RF interference??

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hfrdust
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Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 3:56 pm

LED lights and RF interference??

Post by hfrdust »

Has anyone had issues with their mobile radios after installing LED lighting? I have rear 3 head LED lights and a directional LED light bar in the rear window of a pickup. When I turn on either of the LED lights or the directional bar I cant hear our dispatch or they are so scratchy I cant understand them?
KB2ZTX
was jsikora
Posts: 269
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2003 9:38 am

Re: LED lights and RF interference??

Post by KB2ZTX »

Need alot more info than this.

What kind of radio, band, frequencies, antenna location, mount, power...
KB2ZTX
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Bill_G
Posts: 3087
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:00 am

Re: LED lights and RF interference??

Post by Bill_G »

Yep. It's the switching power supplies for the LEDS throwing off cacapoopoo. You could try doing a better job with the wiring, grounding, filtering the power, etc AFTER (emphasis on AFTER) you have determined the noise is not being radiated. They can do it both ways - trash the power line, and trash the air. You have to do some careful troubleshooting, and you may have to get rid of the lights.
Will
Posts: 6823
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm

Re: LED lights and RF interference??

Post by Will »

KB2ZTX wrote:Need alot more info than this.

What kind of radio, band, frequencies, antenna location, mount, power...
AND what kind/brand/model "LED's" and their power supply.

Good power wiring practices are learned in Alternator Whine 102, AND BSP.
RFguy
Posts: 1357
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:17 am

Re: LED lights and RF interference??

Post by RFguy »

We have found Federal Signal LED's to produce near zero interference.

Whelen are considerably worse. Tomar are terrible. Knockoffs are generally poor.
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WA3VJB
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:36 am

Re: LED lights and RF interference??

Post by WA3VJB »

I had a self-contained visor LED amber/wht pair, cheapie off Amazon, that was quite noisy on VHF.
No control box, just a button on the back to step through on/off & flash type.

I wrapped the housing in self-adhesive aluminum tape used for sealing HVAC ducting, and it cut the noise to a tolerable level. I was surprised at the effective impact, since the front facing light output remained uncovered, but without knowing how the circuit board was situated inside the housing I must have lucked out.

The thing crapped out soon after and was discarded, but the noise suppression technique might be helpful to others.
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