Radio interference from LED light bulbs?

[Elderberry]

Elektor Magazine by Thomas Scherer 9/21/2017

The German Amateur Radio Club (DARC) has issued a press release identifying domestic LED light bulbs as a source of electrical interference. The increasing popularity of these light sources has led to a significant increase in reports of radio traffic disturbance, interruption of radio services and even poor DAB reception. In their opinion, the electrically noisy LED lamps are a result of a bad government policy which simply ignores regulations applicable to EMC and the generation of EMI by electrical equipment.

More: https://www.elektormagazine.com/news/led-rumpus?utm_source=Elektor+United+States+%28English%29&utm_campaign=94ac539298-Radio_interference_from_LED_bulbs_Histor9_29_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8b7374950c-94ac539298-234901357&mc_cid=94ac539298&mc_eid=4454f38e2c

[Bigun]

It's a  big problem that needs to be addressed.

[jmyrlefuller]

I can't say I've ever had any substantial interference problems with LED's. Fluorescents, absolutely. But LED's, no.

[DB]

I'd guess that the vast majority of lights today are made in China and the Chinese will cut corners unless you continuously enforce the rules.

[Frank Cannon]

It's a  big problem that needs to be addressed.

The bigger problem is Germans in general.

[RoosGirl]

The bigger problem is Germans in general.

Are you allowed to say that?  I'm pretty sure that's considered racist these days.

[RoosGirl]

I think this only matters if you're an amateur radio(grapher?) in German.

[Frank Cannon]

Are you allowed to say that?  I'm pretty sure that's considered racist these days.

What the hell type of world is it when you can't make fun of Germans and Belgians?

[Sanguine]

What the hell type of world is it when you can't make fun of Germans and Belgians?

Particularly if you're Dutch.

[RoosGirl]

What the hell type of world is it when you can't make fun of Germans and Belgians?

Listen, if you can't even speak Belgish you have no room to be making fun of them.

[dfwgator]

What the hell type of world is it when you can't make fun of Germans and Belgians?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrvXoin9NcA

[Elderberry]

I think this only matters if you're an amateur radio(grapher?) in German.

Nein! Nein! Nein!

Das Problem ist Universell!

[Frank Cannon]

Listen, if you can't even speak Belgish you have no room to be making fun of them.

What are you? Some sort of Sprout?

[RoosGirl]

What are you? Some sort of Sprout?

I am bitter and smell like cabbage.

[Elderberry]

FAQ - LED Radio Interference Issues  http://www.ledbenchmark.com/faq/LED-interference-issues.html

Some LED lighting products have been reported to emit noise, interfering with FM radio and DAB signals. While the Light Emitting Diodes themselves do not generate any detectable noise, the switching power circuitry driving the LEDs operate at high frequencies, which, when not properly filtered can result in electromagnetic interference.

 

Based on the reported experiences of some LED users, interference issues and, occasionally EMC violation, can arise as a result of radiated emissions in the 30MHz to 300MHz range by some LED products. The LED lights most commonly involved are of fixture type MR16 (more correctly GU5.3), however radiated emissions have also been observed in other fixture types including GU10, E27 and B22 designs. In the case of MR16 lights, the radiated noise signals would most likely be the result of the electronic transformers driving them rather than the lights themselves.

 

Electronic transformers are switched mode power supplies that switch the forward current on and off at high frequencies to minimize power dissipation. When these higher frequencies are not properly filtered, it can result in RFI emission. Signals most likely to suffer as a result of radiated noise include FM radio (broadcast band 87.5 to 108.0 MHz) and DAB radio (broadcast band 174 to 230 MHz).

More: http://www.ledbenchmark.com/faq/LED-interference-issues.html

 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

What the hell type of world is it when you can't make fun of Germans and Belgians?

At least we'll always have the cheese eating surrender monkeys.

[Bigun]

More: http://www.ledbenchmark.com/faq/LED-interference-issues.html

The cheap Chinese ones are DEFINATELY a problem. Put four good ones (Cree from Home depot) in my shack and have not had any more problems.

[Frank Cannon]

I am bitter and smell like cabbage.

Stop trying to turn me on. This is a family site.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Odd. Not sure why LED's would need any switching. They are diodes,  basically electrical check valves. Current should only go through them in one direction only.

[roamer_1]

I am bitter and smell like cabbage.

Ah, so Irish with no alcohol.

[DB]

Odd. Not sure why LED's would need any switching. They are diodes,  basically electrical check valves. Current should only go through them in one direction only.

The "switching" is to step down the line voltage and step up the current to have optimal efficiency driving the LED. Transformers are commonly used to do that but at 60 Hz from the power company the transformer has to be physically large and heavy. Increasing the AC frequency internally (the switching part) allows the use of drastically smaller transformers/inductors. The internal switching frequency is typically 100 kHz to several MHz allowing the use of very small low cost parts instead.

[Suppressed]

Listen, if you can't even speak Belgish you have no room to be making fun of them.

Don't they speak Phlegmish?

[Frank Cannon]

21 posts and no one brings up the obvious. LED lights are listening devices that the govt' uses to spy on citizens. That is why they give off interference to radio waves.