Noise When House Lights ON

[Longaevus]

At first I only thought it was funny that when I hit the ON position of the light switch for my ceiling recessed LED spots (GU10 lamps) my tuners would instantly got full of interference... or noise... or static, you know what I am talking about. Everything ceases if I hit the switch to the OFF position.

This case makes me think of all the audiophiles that purchase expensive electrical outlets and power cables in an effort to reduce electric interferences that reach our homes from the public network....

If any, what are my solutions?

 

[hugo454]

I purchased a $2000 outlet and my interference is a thing of the past

 

[N8Nagel]

I don't have that problem, but AM interference from old school fluorescents was a real thing.

Not really sure how to solve it without basically starting a thread where everyone posts what lights and tuners they're using and whether or not they get interference. Eventually maybe there will be a consensus on what LEDs are "clean?"

 

[dr*audio]

LED lamps are notorious for bad RF interference. You will either have to replace the lamps or install an attic or roof antenna to get it away from the lamp.

 

[Longaevus]

LED lamps are notorious for bad RF interference. You will either have to replace the lamps or install an attic or roof antenna to get it away from the lamp.

Getting rid of them is not an option, I replaced the classic ones with these in the hope of getting some money back on my power bill. I have never tried hooking up any of my tuners to the building's antenna, if that solves the questions great! Better reception and no harm in switching the lights on =P

 

[ConradH]

I have the same problem and just ignore it or switch to mono. Or there's the proper cure:
Boom Boom, (Out Go the Lights)!

 

[sKiZo]

Yall must have gone cheap on the LED fixtures. As mentioned, some lamps will emit serious levels of RF noise.

It's not the LEDs themselves ... some fixtures use a cheapo switching power supply. Solution would be to upgrade to a better fixture, or just leave them off when listening and hope nobody else flips the switch.

BTW ... Those lights are illegal per FCC regulations here in the states, but enforcement sucks. Not sure how it works in your end of the world, but I'd think it's similar standards being ignored. They're fast becoming the bane of ham radio operators, especially the big yard lamps. One of those will kill all the radio bands for a half mile radius. What would be interesting is to check with the neighbors and see if they get noise when you flip them on.

PS ... I've got a few lamps here that are problems. I "upgrade" a couple recessed hallway fixtures and put a motion sensitive lamp on the garage. Both of those just flat out scream on my radio receivers. I suppose on the bright side, no one can sneak up on me in the driveway when I'm listening. ;-}

Here's a pic of the hallway lamps I used ...

 

[dr*audio]

I recently worked on a receiver for a customer. She called me a couple weeks later saying the FM reception is still bad. She said it's fine in the morning and after 5PM it goes to noise. I thought maybe a neighbor came home and turned something on that created interference. I went over there, checked out the antenna and connections and everything was fine. Then she turned the lights on and... all static. I asked if she had changed the bulb over the stereo cabinet and she said she just put in a LED. Replaced it with a incandescent lamp and all was clear.