LEd radio static?

[Driftertex]

OK, here is one that I have not found yet. I recently replaced all of my interior 12V lights with New LED light fixtures. Little did I know that I would acquire radio static when the LED lights are turned on. AM not sure how to fix it. I have read a little bit about ferrite filters but I do not know anything about them or how to use them.
Help??????
Thanks guys.

[Driftertex]

Mine are from China also. Not expensive. $ 11.00 dollars each for a double pancake. very bright, 450 lumens,but I am having troubles with radio interference.

[RoyB]

I am using the SMD BOARD 36-1210 type LED 252 LUMENS (ebay/china) which are non-regulated type LED boards.

When you see in the specs the LED boards will operate from a 8-30VDC Voltage range then this would indicate they are using a regulator circuit to allow this.

If you can see a picture of the SMD boards you will see additionial circuit board parts in addition to just the LED small lights.

Those photos above showing the ebay/china boards only have the LED lights on the board - no additional components...

Just keep in mind some folks don't report having any problems but alot of others do. I most certainly did have trouble with RFI signals using the Command Electronics and LEDTRAILER LED lights. I also had several emails back and forth with Jason Weaver from Starlights, Inc. about their problems with the same RFI issues.

I'm sure I am abit more critical with these problems when camping off the power grid working with weak HDTV signals and sensitive radio units.

Roy Ken

[aarond76]

The lights pictured above are the cheap "Ebay from China" non-regulated LED's. I have them in my camper and experience no issues.

Ironically enough, its the outrageously expensive, voltage regulated LED's available domestically that cause all the problems. My LED's were less than $3 a piece on Ebay. I put them in this spring and we have been on (9) trips so far without issue. Even if the converter fries a few on occasion, you can replace quite a few for the cost of one of the expensive regulated LED's that then won't allow you to watch TV or listen to the radio.

[epeters]

SailingOn wrote:
RoyB, this is the sort of nonregulated board you are talking about? I wasn't sure how you identify the nonregulated board, other than by price.

"36-1210 SMD LED Light board, Warm White DC12V"

I have these boards, so far I have not noticed any issues, however I don't run the radio or TV too much in the spring thru fall months. Winter will be the real test for me.

These lights are pretty good, a little less warm than traditional bulbs, but very good. I also tried the version with 48 leds and it was VERY bright.

[Driftertex]

So, no easy fix? thought there might be an inline static suppressor....i.e. RF ?
And what are those boards?

[SailingOn]

RoyB, this is the sort of nonregulated board you are talking about? I wasn't sure how you identify the nonregulated board, other than by price.

"36-1210 SMD LED Light board, Warm White DC12V"

[RoyB]

Welcome to the LED RFI world. Been telling folks about this every chance I get. Surprised you haven't seen some of my remarks haha... My other point I always kept passing along was to only buy ONE and try it out first haha... Wonder how I learned that... I have posted alot of this info ever chance I got - about as much as seeing everyone buying high dollar generator sets to run their air conditioners only to find out everywhere they go the camp sites have generator restriction hours and only allow a couple of hours a day of generator run times. Sure can't cool down when you are not allowed to run the generators haha...

Good luck with a fix... The FIX is playing with ferrite beads and special VERY SMALL strip-line capacitors soldered in at varies places. My RFI was worse when I was using the crank-up OTA antenna camping off the power grid. It also killed my HDTV reception, my NOAH WX Radio reception as well as reducing my Ham Radio/Police Scanner receptions. I gave up on fixing mine and just replaced the dual light fixtures with the cheap NON-REGULATED Ebay/CHina $4.99 boards. They work just fine and put off very bright WARM LIGHT. The non-regulated type boards operating specs is 12VDC to 14VDC and some guys feared the life expectancy may be reduced. My highest DC voltage coming from the Converter is 14.4VDC but some converters will put out over 15VDC doing their scheduled battery maintenance operations every 24 hours. This might be too much for the LED BOARDS I have. My Ebay/China boards have been going for several years now and I have lost one three LED segment in one roll in only one fixture so far. I bought many spare boards and if it gets to dim to use use then I will just change out the bad board for another new new. $4.99 is not a lot of money hehe...

Still some others installed a different three position switch in their DUAL Ceiling LIGHT fixture (or changed it out for the individual ON-OFF switch for each side models)where it would turn on ONE-OFF-BOTH lights. They left their high dollar regulated type LED board in the BOTH position and installed the cheap $4.99 LED Board in the ONE position. This way they could leave the fixture ON without using the regulated type LED board when watching HDTV.

Also you can't go back with the various LED manufacturers on this problem. They are within FCC specifications on how much RFI they are producing. Most LEDs providers just won't tell you about it until you ask...

Sorry you having problems with yours...

Roy Ken