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Author Topic: LED lighting interference?  (Read 215 times)

WB7HF

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LED lighting interference?
« on: September 10, 2022, 05:17:27 PM »

I am remodeling the kitchen, must use LED lamps. Has anyone found interference from LEDs and dimmer switches affecting their HF rigs?? What should I know about reducing or eliminating RFI while the installation is ongoing- add filters? Use ferrite rings?

WB7HF
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WA9AFM

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2022, 06:26:28 PM »

XYL and I 'downsized' four years ago and specified to the builder to only install LED's.  Save the fluorescent fixtures in the garage, with every light both interior and exterior being LED, not a bit of noise.
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AI5BC

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2022, 06:58:07 PM »

Simple do not buy Chi-Com lighting. There are two things to look for; UL Listed and FCC Part 18 compliance from companies you have known for years.
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AB6RF

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2022, 07:29:18 PM »

My experience with LED lighting:
- Most modern LED "light bulbs" have been RFI free
- I've got really bad HF RFI from couple built-in LED lights. Both times the issue was with the separate switching mode power supply. Replacing the supply fixed the issue.
- LED bulbs have caused problems with the wireless garage door opener. (the bulbs that are right at the motor). Replacing those LED bulbs with CFLs fixed the issues.
- Never had a problem with a CFL bulb.
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SWMAN

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2022, 07:38:32 PM »

 I have quit a few LED bulbs around the house here. No interference at all. If you spend a little more on the good brand bulbs you shouldn’t have any problem either.
 I have no problem with dimmers on LEDs either.
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G4AON

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2022, 01:43:02 AM »

A nearby ham friend had LED “down lights” fitted in their refurbished kitchen. The lights completely wiped out 2m, it’s not just HF you need to check.

He complained to the installer, who replaced them with an alternative brand that was completely clean. I’m sorry but I don’t know which to recommend, but in any case UK types are likely to be different models.

Bottom line, make sure you specifically state the lights must not cause radio interference and that you want to be able to return them without a restocking charge if they do!

73 Dave
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W9IQ

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2022, 02:36:49 AM »

Simple do not buy Chi-Com lighting. There are two things to look for; UL Listed and FCC Part 18 compliance from companies you have known for years.

I think you meant to say Part 15.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

WA3SKN

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2022, 08:00:50 AM »

You might want to take a portable radio when you shop.
And look for FCC Part 15 class B, not class A. It does make a difference!
I have not seen much trouble with the LED lighting on the market.  Much CDL lighting has problems.  And make sure any fluoresents has "residential" and not "commercial" starters!

-Mike.
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WB7HF

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2022, 09:06:53 AM »

Thank you all so much! Super Helpful!!!!

73
WB7HF
Harlan
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W1VT

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2022, 09:38:15 AM »

The interference is generated by power conversion circuitry and not the LEDs themselves.
Those 4 ft tubes can be very quiet if there are no power converters but just long strings of LED bulbs in series.
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KL7CW

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2022, 11:37:51 AM »

My experience is that 4 ft tube RFI comes from the ballast, either the commercial type (often sold in box stores) and the "residential" type both cause unacceptable RFI, especially on the BCB band and 160 meters.  I bought 4 ft. WERKER ballast bypass tubes from batteries plus bulbs.  simple to rewire the fixture.   NO RFI and you save lots of power getting rid of the ballast completely.  Also ballast failure rate is about 5 % a year.  Do not use a plug and play LED tube, which still uses a ballast.   Folks have posted that Hypericon (spelling ?) also makes no RFI tubes which require the rewire of the fixture and get rid of the ballast.  I have rewired about 150 fixtures (350 ? tubes ?) most between 2 and 4 years ago.  No failures yet and some run many hours a day.  About 1% failed out of the box, but I got free replacements.
   Some fixtures require replacement of a tombstone on one end of fixture, but it is easy and I think they cost 40 cents each.                    Rick  kL7CW
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K0UA

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2022, 12:47:54 PM »

The interference is generated by power conversion circuitry and not the LEDs themselves.
Those 4 ft tubes can be very quiet if there are no power converters but just long strings of LED bulbs in series.

Those are what I have used in the house/garage. You have to remove the ballast and rewire the fixture for these Hyperikon 4 foot bulbs. But they are dead quiet. The rewire job takes less than 5 minutes each fixture and easy to do even standing on a ladder. 

For bulbs, I have used only Cree brand.  All dead quiet.


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73  James K0UA

AA4PB

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Re: LED lighting interference?
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2022, 12:54:34 PM »

I also refitted all of my 4-foot florescent tubes with LEDs about 10 years ago (removing the ballasts and rewiring). I have 5 fixtures in the garage, two in the shack, and one in the laundry room. I have no RFI from them and have only replaced one bulb so far.

Out of curiosity I disassemble the defective bulb to see how it was made. It's a series string of LEDs on a long circuit board with a heat sink. Each LED is bypassed by a component that bypasses it if the LED fails so that the whole tube doesn't go dark from a single (or a few) LED failures. What failed in my tube was the series current regulator (an analog device) that limits current through the tube.
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Bob  AA4PB
Garrisonville, VA
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