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 Dr LED RF Interference		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts
Initially Posted - 07/24/2010 :  20:52:45  Show Profile
Last year I installed a Dr LED aft white light. Works great and the current draw is much less than with an incandescent. I also plan to use the same bulb as an anchor light.

I flipped on the FM radio last week while I had the running lights on, and found that all I could hear was "Hash" on the radio. As soon as I flipped off the light, the radio came in clearly. Turn it back on again, and all I got was static.

That's not a real problem when running, since I'm generally busy with other matters. But while at anchor at night, I would really like to listen to the FM.

I also wonder whether the VHF would be affected? Has anybody else had this problem?

Maybe I can add a choke coil in line, or place a capacitor across the circuit?
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5378 Posts
Response Posted - 07/26/2010 :  10:14:53  Show Profile
I did some checking and found several articles around the web about radio interference on boats, RVs and even cars.

Turns out (oddly) the better quality lamps use a switching voltage regulator that can cause hiss and whoosh on the radio. Too bad they also did not (a) make the switching supplies less RF intensive and (2) warn the user about the installation.

The solutions were pretty simple:
1. Wire a 0.1 uF (microfarad) capacitor between the + and - terminals of the light fixture. These capacitors are pretty weatherproof and cheap and available at Radio Shack or other DIY stores, so this is a good solution. This should eliminate most of the problem. Trick is, the capacitor needs to be right next to the light, not on the other end of a long cable by the cabin switch.

2. If that does not work, slip a ferrite bead over the wires right next to the light fixture and make 2-3 wraps of wire around the bead.

This means I need to add these gizmos to my running light circuit (no problem) as well as the anchor light receptacle. I have to do this before the yard guy installs the new anchor light.

I hope I can catch him before he installs it.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.