How to Fix Radio Interference From LED Lights

How to Fix Radio Interference From LED Lights

 

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide on How to Fix Radio Interference from LED Lights!

The modern era has affected all aspects of life. Emerging technologies are working for the betterment of humanity, including energy efficiency. However, much like I did, you might experience radio interference from LED lights in your vehicle. Find out how I fixed the issue in this guide.

How to Fix Radio Interference From LED Lights

LED lights provide more brightness than fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. However, many people have reported an issue which is radio interference from LED lights. For example, if you hear a buzzing sound on your car’s radio, it may occur because of LED light interference.

I have done extensive research to figure out various reasons for this occurrence, and what to do in that case. Therefore, read ahead to find out the LED lights radio interference solution.

Let’s go!

Radio Interference From LED Lights

First, I understood the problem of radio interference from LED lights and then moved on to all the possible solutions.

TV or Radio interference occurs from the LED lights. People who have updated the LED lights in their cars are facing the issue of disrupted signals in the AM/FM car radio. Moreover, many people have reported the TV interference issue in their homes.

Radio signals use a radio frequency between 100kHz and 300GHz. So, if you have any other electronic device with the same frequency placed near your radio, it will disrupt signals resulting in radio interference.

An electrical signal is a wireless signal that can interact with radio waves from the radio station to cause distortion.

You would hear a fuzzy or buzzing noise from the radio. Similarly, it occurs with TV cables or traffic signals. You will experience interference from the LED lights in your home.

How do LED Lights Operate?

It is interesting to note that LED lights emit an electric signal which is received by radio or TV and causes interference. An LED light has a power supply called an LED Driver or a Ballast.

LED lights work with Pulse Width Modulation or PWM. It is a controlled burst of power to enlighten the LED, delivering power with a specific frequency. This frequency is the flicker control of LED lights and decides the flicker per second.

The LED lights convert the Hz ratio to an electrical signal during the flicker control, causing radio interference. It usually happens when you use poor-quality electronic equipment within the power supply, such as a transformer.

Designing of LED Lights Affects Interference

Not all LED lights affect electronic devices, but many of them do. However, it depends on the design of these lights. If you are using a poor-quality product, you may face the issue more often.

Many LED lights have a metal casing that covers the actual LED light and works as a shield. It won’t let the LED lights emit electromagnetic radiation, preventing electromagnetic interference.

Therefore, if you use LED lights without proper shielding, you will experience radio interference. In addition, if you have fixed an LED light bulb close to the radio, it will distort the electrical signals of the radio and cause interference.

Moreover, a recessed lighting system also affects the electrical signals. Therefore, you should not place the radio and recessed lights together.

How to Fix Radio Interference From LED Lights?

Let’s come towards possible solutions on how to fix radio interference from LED lights. Here we discussed many of them including the filters and better replacements.

  • Shielded LED Light Bulbs

LED lighting systems are famous among people for home, commercial, and car headlights. You can also use a LED bulb in your car’s brake lights. However, no matter where you use these light bulbs, try to find high-quality LED lights to avoid radio frequency interference with your radio or TV.
High-quality LED light bulbs come with a metal casing that shields the LED light from interference with other electronic devices.

  • Faraday Cage

As the name indicates, it is a device that blocks electromagnetic fields by surrounding the object. It is readily available in the market. You can use it to cage the LED bulb inside the Faraday cage to eliminate interference.
However, if you use more than one LED bulb, such as brake lights, fog lights, or door lights, they are closer to each other, so you have to use more than one Faraday cage.

  • Radio Frequency Filter

You may have been familiar with the radio frequency filters. These filters block certain electronic devices’ frequency and hence prevent interference with other devices.
You can purchase these filters from any electronic store. They also provide a guide on how to connect them. However, you should connect the filter between the LED light and the power source.
In addition, if there are multiple electronic devices in the room, you have to use more than one filter according to the requirement.

  • AM radio

If you have to use an AM radio, you should place it away from the LED bulbs. If you feel a particular LED light is causing interference with the radio, you can replace that light or move the radio away from the light.
However, it is impossible to increase the distance between the AM radio and LED lights in a car. Therefore, you should use filters or shielded lights.
Moreover, always keep your radio tuned so that you can be sure about the radio interference. If there is no other problem with the radio, LED lights can be a cause of radio interference.

  • Ferrite Beads

EMI filters are also famous as Ferrite chokes or beads. To avoid interference, add a ferrite choke at the input/output of the LED light’s transformer. It is one of the best ways to eliminate LED light interference. However, it is only suitable for low-voltage LED lights.
Moreover, you can also change your transformer with a better EMI suppression to listen to your favorite radio stations.

  • Antenna

You should move the antenna of any wireless device, such as a radio or WiFi router, away from the LED lights. Therefore, you would experience less interference.

  • LED light Transformer Replacement

A transformer plays a vital role in LED light interference. Therefore, you should consult with your electrician and find the best transformer.
Moreover, ensure that you use specific transformers designed for LED lights. In addition, do not use cheap materials as they will disturb the signals.

  • Signal Booster

You can also improve the radio signal in a car by using signal boosters. The booster would receive the signal, amplify it, and pass it to the radio more clearly. It would help to avoid interference caused by interior lighting or LED headlights.
You can find these boosters easily in electronic stores.

  • RFI Filter

RFI filters are famous for reducing the interference caused by any device. You can place this filter into the wall outlet where the LED bulbs are plugged in. The filter will play a major role in reducing RFI on LED lights.

  • A Different Type of Light Bulb

It is the last solution to avoid interference that you should use another type of bulb, such as an incandescent bulb. However, if you like LED lights, you can use the above solutions to avoid radio interference.

FAQs

Why do my LED lights interfere with my radio?

LED lights interfere with radio because of have electrical signals with the same frequency. Therefore, you should not place both devices together.

How do you stop radio interference?

There are different methods to stop radio interference. You can use any of them. The most famous is using filters to avoid interference of devices. Moreover, you should use high-quality and shielded lights in your car or home. In addition, always use the LED transformer to avoid disruption of radio signals.

Why does my radio get static when I turn my lights on?

If you have LED lighting in your home, you may experience this issue. LED lights interfere with the radio signal and make it static. However, you should use a good-quality LED bulb to avoid radio interference.

Do LED lights emit radio frequency?

An LED driver is a power supply and one of the main internal components of LED lights. It emits radio frequency which is the same as the frequency of a radio. Therefore, it is one of the main factors in radio interference.

Conclusion

LED lights are famous modern light alternatives. People have stopped using incandescent bulbs and prefer LED lighting. However, it has a side effect of radio interference. LED light bulbs emit frequencies the same as the radio frequency.

The electrical signals from the light interfere with the radio waves and produce a buzzing noise. The whole scenario is famous as radio interference. However, this article has explained the LED lights radio interference solution.

You can use these filters in your car, home, or any other place to suppress the interference caused by LED light bulbs.

In addition, try to place your radio device away from the LED lights to avoid distortion resulting in radio interference.

Last Updated on October 11, 2023 by Brian Beasley

Written by Danny Reid

Hey, I'm Danny, and I know how hard it can be to find the perfect audio gear. Need a new stereo, amp, speakers, or subs? Don't worry – my blog is here to help you cut through the noise! My mission is to give you the best reviews, so you can make the right decision for your audio needs. And if you ever get stuck thinking, "Where does this blue wire go?" don't worry – I've got tons of cool tips to help you out of any jam. So come along with me on this fun, sound-filled adventure, and let's find the perfect audio setup to make your tunes really sing!

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